Digital licenses, pesticide notices and more: These new Illinois laws were signed Friday

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Governor J.B. Pritzker signed more than 250 bills into law Friday afternoon. Here is a list of some of those new laws that you should know about.

1. Notification for public pesticide application

Any pesticide applicators working for the government will need to provide public notice before spraying chemicals on public property.

“The goal here is to help families plan for when pesticides are applied near their home so they can take whatever precautions they feel are necessary, whether that means keeping kids inside or covering things like plants and pools,” Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) said. “This is a way to keep government accountable to the citizens of our state.”

Required in the public notice is the applicator’s contact information so concerned citizens can ask questions. The law does not apply to farmers or private individuals.

2. Full clearance for the Shelby County Rescue Squad

The Shelby County Rescue Squad is officially authorized to work under state law. Shelby County Board members asked McClure to file the bill to help keep their rescue squad operational.

3. More grocery stores can apply to grants to keep open

Farmer-owned grocery stores will be available to apply for Illinois Grocery Initiative grants, including Grab ‘n Go Greenhouse in Scott County.

“Food deserts, especially in Central and Southern Illinois, deprive people of fresh, nutritious foods,” Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) said. “This is an important step to tackling food deserts while uplifting our farmers.”

4. Ending the legal shipment of e-cigarette products

At the start of 2025, e-cigarettes will no longer be allowed to shipped to Illinois addresses. The change was to prevent minors from accessing vaping devices while underage. Local elected officials have reported higher usage of vapes in schools and asked for lawmakers to establish stricter guardrails.

5. No small plastic bottles in hotel rooms

A new law cracks down on the single, small-sized plastic bottles inside hotels. All hotels with 50 or more rooms will not be allowed to offer those small hygiene products in individual rooms and public bathrooms starting on July 1, 2025, with smaller hotels expected to follow suit by 2026. Advocates hope the bill lessens the amount of plastic waste.

“Tiny plastic bottles provided by hotels that contain personal care products, like shampoo and conditioner, produce unnecessary plastic pollution,” Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), who sponsored the bill, said. “By taking an environmentally conscious approach to hospitality, we can reduce plastic pollution across the state and throughout our waterways.”

6. Establishing a maximum price for asthma inhalers

Insurance companies in 2026 will be required to cover prescription inhalers . The maximum price a person with health insurance can pay for a month supply after then is $25.

“As someone with asthma, I know the importance of having access to an inhaler — and the cost that comes with it,” said Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). “People shouldn’t be faced with financial hardship when it comes to essential medication.”

7. Easier ways to cancel gym memberships

Gyms and fitness businesses in the state will be required to offer contracts that can be cancelled online or by email, instead of by letter or in person. Advocates believe the law protects consumers from financial strain of forgotten and unused subscription fees.

8. More accessibility for distributing free fentanyl test strips

A new law eases the regulations on distributing free fentanyl test strips, including allowing county health departments to distribute free test strips outside of their buildings.

Advocates say fentanyl is the cause behind the majority of overdose deaths in Illinois and access to test strips improves harm reduction efforts.

9. More options for prospective teachers taking content tests

Anyone applying for a teaching licenses can now take their content area tests before, during and after. The law’s Senate sponsor, Meg Loughran Cappell (D-Shorewood), hopes the new rule helps more teachers get certified and eventually, into their own classroom.

“Under this law, students will be given more opportunities to thrive because we are able to get qualified teachers in the classroom more quickly, providing a stable learning environment for all,” Loughran Cappell said.

10. Get replacement stickers for free if your license plate gets stolen

The $20 fee for replacing a registration sticker and $6 fee for a new plate if a drivers’ license plate or sticker will be gone by the start of 2025.

11. Digital Drivers Licenses available on phones

One bill signed into law Friday starts the efforts to allow Illinois residents to carry digital drivers’ licenses.

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias heavily lobbied for the bill. He hopes for the mobile IDs to be available to Illinoisans as soon as next year though the IDs still need to pass testing and security requirements.

“We’re excited to reach a point where we can implement mobile IDs in a manner that ensures our roads are safe and that the privacy of Illinoisans is protected, while still providing law enforcement, businesses and medical professionals, which rely on physical driver’s licenses and identification cards, the information they require,” he said.

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