The 2025 Illinois Legislation at a Glance
The year 2025 will be marked by a significant shift in governance and law across the State of Illinois, driven by a comprehensive set of laws aimed not only at addressing immediate legislative gaps but also at laying the foundation for future economic, health, and social development. These new laws are a reflection of the state’s socio-economic priorities and its ongoing commitment to not only resolving its budgetary and infrastructural challenges but also to carving a new path for sustainable growth and equitable prosperity for its citizens.
The state legislature has enacted laws in the areas of education, healthcare, labor and employment, criminal justice reform, and public safety, among others . Each piece of legislation is intended to directly address a unique need or concern highlighted by state analysis or public outcry. For instance, reforms in criminal justice reform laws are designed to target issues such as over-incarceration, treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues, and legal representation for low income defendants. Labor laws are focused on providing protections for Illinois workers such as minimum wage increases and other benefits. Healthcare laws reflect a high priority for access to quality care across Illinois, as well as an emphasis on preventative services and the establishment of more minimum standards of care.
The new laws have been organized into an easy-to-navigate framework, and can be accessed at the end of this guide.
Changes to Criminal Justice Statutes
In a move that reflects the ongoing conversation around policing and criminal justice reform, several new statutes take effect in 2025 aimed at addressing systemic issues within the criminal justice system. One such statute, SB 3123, allows for the expungement of criminal records under certain circumstances. Another, HB 2418, requires all law enforcement officers to undergo de-escalation training. Both new laws are part of a broader effort to ensure that public safety is achieved equitably.
Two related new statutes, HB 3105 and SB 2129, seek to limit the extent of criminal penalties. For example, HB 3105 eliminates the criminal penalties for possession of less than 15 grams of cannabis (under certain circumstances). SB 2129 limits the charges that can be brought for deaths that occur while offenders are detained in jails and prisons to cases involving intentional killing, involuntary manslaughter and driving a vehicle with negligent homicide.
Other new statutes are more specific. For example, SB 1804 prohibits the use of "pain compliance techniques" by law enforcement officers and requires de-escalation training.
There are also several new statutes aimed at addressing issues related to the implementation of the death penalty. For example, HB 3560 changes the process for the appointment of counsel for review of the death penalty. SB 1790 alters proceedings to sentence a person to the death penalty and to impose or reduce a sentence of death.
In a continuing trend, the General Assembly passed multiple bills to reduce prison sentences for some non-violent crimes. HB 3742 allows a defendant charged with certain drug offenses to receive probation rather than prison time. Overall, there are now more pathways to probation than ever before for certain people charged with non-violent crimes.
Revisions to Labor and Employment Laws
Among the most controversial labor and employment measures were the amendments to the one-day rest period requirements for workers under state law. Now, if an employer schedules an employee a shift that is 7.5 hours or more, the employer now must give the worker at least 24 hours of consecutive unpaid time off after every work period of 7.5 consecutive hours. The new law includes a carve-out for meal periods, which means that employers could potentially find ways to avoid the new requirement. Employers must offer at least 20 minutes of unpaid breaks during 7.5-hour shifts and 30 minutes on shifts longer than 7.5 hours.
Illinois also joins larger states such as California in mandating paid time off for most employees who work at least 2 hours per week for a 90 day period. The law, called the Healthy Families Act requires that employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours. Employees may use sick leave that starts 180 days after their first day of employment for any reason covered under the law, including for childbirth and adoption or for illness or medical treatment. Employers may not limit the reason for leave to only a few reasons. There is no cap on the total number of hours of leave an employee can take.
Illinois joins other states in giving nursing mothers breast feeding accommodations on the job. Effective January 1, 2014, employers must allow nursing mothers reasonable time to express breast milk "as needed," unless the employer makes reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location, in proximity to the work area, where employees can express breast milk in private. There are some exceptions, including if doing so would place an undue hardship on the employer or undermine the purpose of an accommodation. Employers are also required to maintain the privacy of any employee seeking to express breast milk in private.
Modifications to Health Care Legislation
In a move anticipated to significantly impact healthcare quality and access across the state, the 2025 legislative session saw the introduction of a number of laws that focused on expanding healthcare services to low-income families and the elderly, as well as addressing systemic disparities in health outcomes and providing resources for mental health services and rehabilitation. One sweeping bill aimed to streamline Medicaid expansion, making it easier for eligible residents to access healthcare and preventative care services without burdening them with exorbitant costs. These reforms were said to have impacted hundreds of thousands of people across the state immediately. The Department of Public Health also updated and expanded mandatory reporting regulations for healthcare facilities and providers. Updated educational programs and workshops were provided to medical staff about the new laws and regulations in order to ensure proper compliance. A service was also created to facilitate complaints and feedback from the public, allowing the Department of Public Health to respond to grievances much faster.
Changes to Education Policies
The 2025 overhaul of the Illinois educational system is designed to address gaps in resources, infrastructure, and access across the entire educational continuum. The reforms have been broadly divided between K-12 and post-secondary education. The fundamental goal of the reforms is to ensure high quality educational experiences for all students, regardless of their district or economic background.
The reforms for K-12 education with respect to class sizes, teacher hiring, salary caps, and funding are similar to those already in place for public universities. Class sizes have been increased without additional funding to cover the costs. Teacher budgets are nowhere near the level needed to ensure that only the highest quality teachers are hired. The new law imposes a state-wide salary cap at all levels, limiting salaries to the average in the county. While it has significantly increased state funding, Illinois still trails behind the national average for elementary and secondary education funding. Distant districts struggle with the increase in class size and accompanying strain on infrastructure that must be funded through local taxes . Despite these challenges, the law closes the gap in funding with respect to class sizes, teacher salaries, and number of teachers per student. It accomplishes this by pulling from the state tax increases that partly compensate for lower local tax revenues. Consequently, the act directs all of the funding to school districts that contribute the least amount of property taxes to education.
The remapping of districts is a significant and welcome change for many. The boundaries of several of the lower income communities in Illinois have shifted through the years to facilitate the creation of more balanced and better resourced districts. Many suburban districts have simply expanded to absorb the poorer neighborhoods as they became underserved and underrepresented in larger districts. These new district lines will allow whole neighborhoods to emerge from below the overspill of wealthier neighboring communities. This reform has been well received in both the lower and upper income neighborhoods. Lower income communities have greater autonomy and responsibility for their schools, while wealthier communities are now able to exercise more control over the funding that goes to the schools.
New Laws Affecting the Environment and Clean Energy
Sustainable Water Use:
The Sustainable Water Use: Groundwater Management Act, aimed at curbing groundwater use in areas with severe water depletions, is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. The law requires the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Agriculture to establish a rule to address groundwater research and management programs, which includes enacting a water conservation program that targets the most high-water-demand regions of the state.
Protection of the Environment:
Paired with the Sustainable Water Use law is the Water Conservation Law, which focuses on high-consuming sources of water. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, this law applies to the extraction, collection, diversion or use of more than 100,000 gallons of water per day. Also for 2025, the Residential Energy Benchmarks law requires residential buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to obtain a median Energy Use Intensity score each year. If your building meets this size requirement, register for the program online and complete your first energy benchmarking report. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the new Electric Vehicle Rebate law provides a cash rebate when you purchase an electric vehicle. Depending on the type of vehicle and your income level, rebates can be up to $4,000. The Energy Transition law allows you to benefit from rebates and credits if you install rooftop solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and more on your home. For more details, visit the program’s website. The Clean Indoor Air Act, which prohibits smoking indoors, including in an enclosed area of a public place, is expanding. The new indoor air restrictions and smokefree workplace protections go into effect subject to the following exceptions. The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Effects on the Local Business Community and Economy
The new laws enacted in Illinois are set to fundamentally transform the state’s business landscape and, in many respects, present both opportunities and challenges. As the state experiences sweeping changes on the national stage, local businesses are well positioned to benefit from the new climate that supports economic growth, while also finding themselves navigating new waters that find many of them uncharted. Laws such as those addressing the minimum wage and the non-compete agreements are bound to have major repercussions on local employment. For example, the mandated increase in the minimum wage will most acutely affect the hospitality and retail sectors, which are already experiencing a resistance to low-margin operations. Hotels and restaurants will potentially see their pool of workers expanded as a result of younger people seeking jobs while studying or starting their careers. Yet, at the same time, the workforce could contract as this demographic shifts toward other, oftentimes higher-paying positions. Additionally, as non-compete clauses become less common and harder to enforce, companies that previously relied heavily on such agreements may be forced to re-evaluate the structure of their businesses in order to protect intellectual and business assets from competitors. Smaller firms may find opportunities to hire mid-career talent, which often helps to drive innovation. However, larger corporations will be tasked with a more difficult responsibility of balancing employee retention with competitive recruitment practices – often creating political tension between companies and their employees.
Public Sentiment and Political Commentary
The enactment of the new laws has elicited a range of responses from the public and political leaders. In some communities, these legislative changes have been met with widespread approval, heralded as steps towards progressive governance in line with broader national trends. Supporters argue that these laws are reflective of a changing society and a government body in touch with the needs of its constituents.
Conversely, critics of the new laws have decried them as "overreaching" or "unnecessary." There are those who believe that these legislative measures impose undue restrictions on individual freedoms or that they are not reflective of the democratic will. Along party lines, there has been pushback particularly on those laws perceived to shift the balance of power between the state and the federal government .
Controversy has also emerged over laws addressing issues particularly sensitive to the state’s diverse communities. For instance, the criminal justice reforms have sparked vehement discussions in communities that are split over what kind of measures should be taken to address systemic issues. But even with regarding more divisive and sensitive issues, the level of engagement and dialogue generated is seen by many as a promising sign of active citizenship.
While public opinion surrounding the new laws remains divided, most agree that these changes will undoubtedly shape the political landscape in Illinois for years to come. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the new laws, few would argue that a political and social realignment is underway, and that the stage is set for a new era of governance in the state.