This year more than 180 bills will go into effect as new state laws. Those laws will affect healthcare, children in state care, reduced fees for seniors and more. Some of those new laws you should know about include:
- The cost of license plate registration will be reduced from $24 to $10 for low-income seniors and people with disabilities (HB5304)
- New rights were enacted for nursing home residents that include among other things, the right to be treated with courtesy and respect (SB1633).
- Taxpayers will be able to access an interactive map on the State of Illinois Comptroller's website that provides the location and annual financial information of all statewide taxing bodies (HB0568).
- Homeowner associations will be assured the right to file an appeal to the Property Tax Appeal Board on behalf of homeowners (SB3069).
- Health insurance plans will be required to offer coverage for hormone therapy treatment for women who have undergone a hysterectomy (House Bill 5254).
- In the Foster Children’s Bill of Rights Act, the list of rights is expanded to include new items designed to support children transitioning in and out of the foster care system (House Bill 5418).
- The Family Bereavement Leave Act will now permit up to 10 work days of unpaid leave from work due to a miscarriage, unsuccessful fertility procedure, failed adoption, failed surrogacy agreement, diagnosis that negatively impacts fertility, or stillbirth (Senate Bill 3120).
- Returning military service members will have better access to gain civilian work experience through the SkillBridge program for employers and transitioning service members. SkillBridge is designed for service members to gain civilian work experience through industry training apprenticeships or internships during their last 180 days of service (House Bill 5385).