In: police officer background checks
Out: the statewide grocery tax
Just kidding, I won’t be presenting legislation in the form of a trend-forecasting list. (Hopefully yesterday’s scratched that itch.) It’s time to get serious: Nearly 300 new laws took effect in Illinois Jan. 1.
New Policing Laws
As mentioned above, 2026 marks the start of enhanced background checks when hiring police officers in Illinois. The move comes after the murder of Sonya Massey, who was killed in her home by former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson worked six law enforcement jobs in four years and had two DUIs before becoming a cop.
Officers also must now train (every three years) in trauma-informed programs to comply with Anna’s Law, named for Illinoisan Anna Williams who felt dismissed throughout an investigation into her own sexual assault.
Meanwhile, the “Squatter Bill” makes it easier for police officers to remove squatters from a home by differentiating “squatters” from “tenants,” opening a path to bypass eviction procedure. Previously, squatters were allowed to stay at a property while the case was underway.
Immigration-Related Laws
Signed into law at the height of “Operation Midway Blitz,” the Safe Schools for All Act explicitly guarantees the right to a K-12 public education regardless of immigration status. This means:
- Schools cannot allow law enforcement inside without a judicial warrant.
- Schools cannot share any child’s (or their family members’) immigration information.
- Students and families cannot be excluded from activities or programs due to immigration status.
Another law went into effect Jan. 1 enacting some similar protections at state-licensed child care centers and public colleges.
Meanwhile, publicly funded scholarships will be awarded regardless of immigration status. That was already true for state-funded financial aid, but local aid programs are now included under that umbrella.
Other Updates
- Ten percent of funds collected from Chicago ambulance rides will go toward fire truck and ambulance upgrades.
- The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority can now oversee women’s teams, which could help the Chicago Stars soccer team get state stadium funding.
- Employers must compensate mothers during breast-pumping breaks for up to a year after their child is born.
- Firearm storage requirements in homes with children increased.
- Libraries must maintain a supply of opioid overdose medication, like Narcan.
