* WAND…

People charged with their first weapon-related offense will soon have the ability to apply for a FOID card while they participate in a pretrial detention program.

Current state law allows nonviolent offenders charged with their first offense to participate in divergence programs. Once completed, a state’s attorney can dismiss the charges, but the individual cannot apply for a FOID card until after the charges are dismissed. […]

“[The law] expands access to rehabilitation while upholding gun safety laws, maintains law enforcement oversight, strengthens public safety through legal compliance, and ultimately reduces recidivism and supports successful reintegration,” said Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago).

All of the current requirements for legal gun ownership in Illinois will remain the same. The Illinois State Police could also deny someone’s application for a FOID card if they are ineligible.

* Sen. Omar Aquino…

Amid alleged due process violations and changing immigration policies, State Senator Omar Aquino championed a new law to secure representation for non-citizen Cook County residents undergoing immigration proceedings. […]

The new law expands the jurisdiction of the Cook County Public Defender to represent non-citizen Cook County residents in immigration cases arising or being heard outside of the county. The law also allows the county board to authorize representation by the public defender beyond those limits.

“Everyone deserves a fair and just legal process, no matter their immigration status. By expanding the jurisdiction of the Cook County Public Defender, we are strengthening the right to due process for all our residents,” said Aquino. “Illinois is a welcoming state, and we will not turn our backs on the people who call it home.”

House Bill 2436 was signed into law Friday and is effective immediately.

* Sen. Robert Peters…

State Senator Robert Peters led a new law creating the Office of the State Public Defender, an independent office under the state’s Judicial Branch – marking one of the most substantial reforms of Illinois’ public defense system since 1949. […]

A state public defender is a government-employed lawyer who provides legal representation to individuals accused or convicted of crimes who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. Public defender offices are one of three methods through which states and localities ensure defendants are granted the 6th and 14th Amendments right to counsel.

Currently, in all Illinois counties except Cook, judges can hire and fire chief public defenders at will. This goes against the national standard set by the American Bar Association, which calls for public defenders to be independent. Only one other state – Mississippi – still does this, highlighting the need for this updated system in Illinois.

Peters’ law creates the State Public Defender Act – establishing the Office of the State Public Defender under the courts, setting the rules for the public defender’s powers, pay and how they are appointed, and forming a commission to oversee the office and identify its operational costs and funding requirements. At the local level, county offices will mirror this structure to strengthen local defense across the state. […]

House Bill 3363 was signed into law Friday. It goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027.

* Sen. Julie Morrison…

A new law championed by State Senator Julie Morrison will eliminate the use of toxic “forever chemicals” in everyday items like cosmetics, dental floss and children’s products, marking a significant step toward keeping harmful substances out of people’s homes and bodies. […]

To reduce Illinoisans’ exposure to these chemicals, Morrison’s new law bans intentionally added PFAS from several categories of products sold and distributed in the state beginning Jan. 1, 2032, including cosmetics, dental floss, children’s items, menstrual products and intimate apparel. The law prioritizes products where PFAS exposure is likely to be frequent or prolonged, especially for vulnerable populations like children, and sets a 2032 implementation date to give manufacturers time to phase out their use.

The law also requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to submit a report to the General Assembly by Aug. 1, 2027 on the risks and potential regulation of PFAS in consumer products. […]

House Bill 2516 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.

* WMBD…

A new Illinois law will make it easier for parents or guardians to see their kids’ mental health records.

House Bill 2994 gives parents of students receiving special education services access to their child’s mental health records regarding the service the parents consent to on the child’s behalf, Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) said. […]

Koehler said the previous law made access to the records unclear or limited as children grew older. He said this new law will help improve understanding between teachers and families.

The law was signed on Friday and will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

* Sen. Mary Edly-Allen…

State Senator Mary Edly-Allen worked with multiple statewide education stakeholders to pass a law that will address unnecessary and burdensome Illinois School Code mandates.

“Public school teachers play a critical role in shaping our young minds and preparing them for the future,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “The School Code Mandate Reduction Council will begin evaluating the 699 mandates introduced since 1982 – an essential step toward improving our laws to fit with the evolving education landscape.”

Senate Bill 1740 initiates the reduction of unnecessary school code mandates agreed upon by statewide educational stakeholders. The law creates the School Code Mandate Reduction Council, comprised of eight members of the General Assembly and one member from each of the 12 statewide educational organizations, to identify and recommend the removal of mandates that align with the state’s goal of providing high-quality education tailored to each student.

“As an educator and legislator, I recognize the importance of mandates; however, it is time to remove the outdated and cumbersome requirements that limit educators from preparing our students for the future,” said Edly-Allen.

Senate Bill 1740 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect immediately.

* WAND…

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday to require the Illinois Department of Corrections report data on hospice care available for prisoners. […]

The Department of Corrections does not have a formal hospice program, as end-of-life care is provided on a prison by prison basis.

Sponsors said this has led to inconsistent care for prisoners diagnosed with terminal illnesses or who are expected to reach the end of their life.[…]

IDOC will have to provide a report with demographic data of prisoners receiving hospice and palliative care by December 1 of each year. This plan passed out of the House and Senate on partisan lines.

* Rep. Patrick Sheehan…

State Representative Patrick Sheehan is proud to announce that House Bill 1842, a measure designed to enhance the fairness, transparency, and effectiveness of municipal code enforcement proceedings, was officially signed into law this past Friday.

“This legislation ensures local governments have the tools they need to uphold local code while also protecting the rights of residents,” said Rep. Sheehan. “By setting consistent rules and requiring formal training for hearing officers, we’re promoting accountability and fairness across the board.”

HB1842 establishes clear standards for administrative hearing officers and reinforces due process for individuals facing municipal code violations. Hearings must be led by attorneys licensed in Illinois for at least three years, who complete formal training in procedural rules and adjudication. Decisions must be based on authenticated evidence, with written findings outlining penalties or required actions. The bill also authorizes local governments to remediate violations when compliance deadlines are missed, ensuring timely enforcement to protect public safety.

* Sen. Laura Ellman…

Middle school students across Illinois will soon have the opportunity to get a head start on their high school education, thanks to legislation led by State Senator Laura Ellman. House Bill 3039, recently signed into law, allows seventh and eighth grade students to earn high school credit for certain high school-level courses. […]

Under the new law, middle school students who are enrolled in high school courses may earn credit if they:

● Take the course at the high school without taking high school student’s seats
● Take the course at their middle school and pass the same final exam used at the high school, demonstrating proficiency
● Take the course from a teacher properly licensed or endorsed to teach that subject at the high school level. […]

House Bill 3039 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

* WTVO…

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new law Friday that guarantees undocumented students in Illinois have access to student financial aid.

House Bill 460 makes financial aid accessible to all Illinois residents, regardless of their legal immigration status. […]

According to Villaneuva’s office, the bill standardizes eligibility criteria across programs to eliminate confusing and sometimes conflicting requirements that have excluded undocumented migrants from finanical aid. […]

The law goes into effect on January 1st, 2026.

* WAND…

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a proposal into law Friday to ban companies from manufacturing, selling and distributing firefighter protective gear that contain forever chemicals.

The law requires companies selling protective equipment containing PFAS to provide written notice of why the chemicals are added to the gear by the end of the year. Illinois will ban people from selling any PPE containing forever chemicals to fire departments starting January 1, 2027. […]

“Although the fire service has known that PFAS were contained in our protective gear since at least 2018, nothing was done about it until state laws and litigation started to affect the bottom line of these manufacturers,” said Steve Shetsky from the Associated Firefighters of Illinois.

Manufacturers that sell auxiliary protective gear will be banned from knowingly selling or distributing the gear intentionally containing PFAS starting January 1, 2030.