Pritzker signs 62 new laws, many not in effect until 2027

By Sean Reed | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a series of bills into law on Friday and over the weekend, with the 62 new laws set to take effect over the next year.

Of the laws signed, dozens already have or will take effect this week.

ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION REGULATION

House Bill 5070 prevents the state’s Pollution Control Board from having to adopt federal environmental rules and regulations if they are weaker than state law, allowing the board to deliberate before determining if the change will be made in the state.

During a hearing on the bill in March, Andrew Armstrong, chief legal counsel for the Illinois EPA, faced skepticism from Republican lawmakers, to which he addressed by saying the purpose of the bill was not necessarily political in nature.

“I want to be clear this is not ‘everything that the Trump administration does is wrong’ at all,” Armstrong said. “If we look at a new federal regulation, whether it’s from the Trump administration or another, and it’s less strict than a rule that’s already been adopted, we can have a discussion and debate about whether the state of Illinois should adopt that regulation.”

The law came into effect upon the governor’s signing Friday.

RETAIL COUPON AVAILABILITY

House Bill 45 was initially introduced to require retailers offer corresponding paper coupons and deals rather than just being available digitally. The bill was amended due to heavy opposition from retailers who were opposed to the paper coupon requirement.

It was changed to leave the form of coupon redemption and delivery up to retailers and no longer requires retailers to automatically apply coupons.

State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr explained her discussions with retailers of the state and the purpose of the law on the House floor in April.

“This bill as amended gives retailers the flexibility to make sure that all consumers and their customers will get these advertised digital coupons,” Yang Rohr said. “The original bill required a paper coupon um and that was the source of much of the opposition. The amended bill removes that paper requirement and allows a retailer to choose whichever method works for them.”

One notable change to current law is it offers consumers the ability to sue if valid coupons or deals are refused or not applied, though only after granting retailers a two-week period to resolve a complaint.

The law takes effect Jan. 1.

GENDER IDENTITY AND HEALTHCARE

Before the start of a Pride Month parade in Chicago on Sunday, Pritzker was joined by legislators to sign a trio of bills related to transgender healthcare and gender identity.

Pritzker removed testosterone from the list of monitored drugs under the Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program, while also prohibiting a number of other drugs from being added to the list of drugs monitored, such as Estrogen and mifepristone.

One of the laws will require medical insurance companies to cover hormone therapy prescriptions in amounts up to a six-month supply.

He also signed a bill that will guarantee residents the ability to choose between three gender markers on their drivers license; “M”, “F” or “X.”

OTHER SIGNINGS

House Bill 4235 prevents incarcerees in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities from having to pay any fee or surcharge to send mail, except for standard postage rates. The law has already taken effect.

House Bill 4247 will permit school coaches and athletic trainers to administer inhalers, epipens, oxygen, and opioid overdose-reversing medications like Narcan. The law takes effect on Jan. 1.

House Bill 4461 will prevent hospitals from being allowed to file a lien on a patient’s primary residence because they have past-due medical debt, taking effect on Jan. 1.

House Bill 4702 requires all diapers sold or distributed in the state to be labeled with a list of ingredients used to produce the product. While the law is effective on Jan. 1, it has a grace period for companies to come into compliance, ending on June 1, 2028.