Have You Been Injured? We're Ready to Fight for You.

New Illinois Laws That Will Take Effect in 2025

Published on Jan 22, 2025 by Thomas Law Offices.

New Illinois Laws That Will Take Effect in 2025

You can always count on two things at the start of a new year. The first is that gyms will be full of new members trying to honor their New Year’s Eve resolution to get into shape. The second is that many new laws will enter the books. Apparently, the Illinois state legislature had quite a busy year last year.

They managed to cobble together and get signed by the Governor nearly 300 new laws that will take effect in 2025.

The three laws that might get the most buzz concern wages, O’Hare, and shampoo bottles.

Starting in 2025, the state’s minimum wage will increase to $15 an hour for non-tipped employees and $9 an hour for tipped employees.

Over at the airport, the O’Hare Driver Safety Act aims to clear up congestion by banning people from lining up on the highway shoulders to wait for their loved one’s arrival. New cameras will also be installed to catch anyone idling.

With the Small Single-Use Plastic Bottle Act, hotels will no longer provide small single-use plastic bottles of shampoo, soap, or conditioner. That means you either have to share a big bottle with the guest who was in the room before you or bring your own.

There are many other laws pertaining to health, safety, and various aspects of our daily life. Here are some of the highlights:

Cancer Screenings

A new law requires Illinois health insurance companies to cover annual prostate cancer screenings, cervical smears, or Pap smears for all insured individuals, regardless of their gender. A lack of a proper diagnosis is common in medical malpractice lawsuits.

When a doctor fails to order the proper tests, a patient’s health can be compromised. This law will make these vital cancer screenings easier to order and access.

Workers’ Compensation

There are new laws that would impact a potential workers’ compensation claim. The Personnel Record Review Act provides a list of specific documents that every employee has a right to inspect and copy, including medical records and employee contracts.

The second new law pertains to granting employee access to their pay stubs. These will be vital information for filing a worker’s compensation claim.

Digital IDs

A new law makes it easier to download your driver’s license as a digital ID that you can store on your cell phone. With the enactment of this law, your digital ID will be considered the same as your regular license.

This could be an issue in car accidents when you need to exchange information with the other motorist. It will be easy to snap a photo of their digital ID for your records.

There are many other new laws that pertain to renter rights, property taxes, and public works. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the laws to see where you could benefit and what you might have to change. If you do find yourself confused about a law that might impact your life, you can speak with an attorney at the Thomas Law Offices.

Our team has been reviewing the laws, and we’re confident in how they can be applied and benefit our clients.

Free Case Evaluation

At Thomas Law Offices, our personal injury attorneys recognize that our potential clients are likely going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We don't want you to have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal advice when you're just starting to learn your legal rights and options. That's why we provide free case evaluations. We'll offer our expert advice about your potential case and walk you through how we can help you.

Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Meet Our Founder

Tad Thomas - Trial Lawyer

Tad Thomas

Managing Partner

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation.

After graduating with his law degree in 2000 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, Mr. Thomas immediately opened his own private practice and began representing injury victims.

In 2011, Thomas Law Offices was established in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the past decade, Mr. Thomas has expanded his firm and now has offices in three additional locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. He is also a frequent lecturer on topics like trial skills and ethics and technology.

Legal & Firm News

Wichita American Airlines Plane Collided Mid-Air With a U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter

American Airlines flight number 5342 was slated to arrive at Reagan National Airport (DCA) from Wichita Eisenhower Airport (ICT) just after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30. Instead, it collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter during its final descent. Video footage taken by rooftop cameras in Washington, D.C., in the moments leading […]

Read More

How To Check if Your Doctor Has a History of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is a big problem in Chicago. However, it’s not just isolated to our area of Illinois. It’s an issue nationwide. Data published by the Association of Health Care Journalists highlights how medical errors have become the third-most leading cause of patient fatalities in our country. Additional reporting from Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that […]

Read More

Ohio Nursing Home Resident Dies from Being Left Out in Cold on Christmas Eve

An 84-year-old resident of an Ohio nursing home was pronounced dead on Christmas Eve after being found on the patio outside the facility. Alvera Meuti, a resident at the Avenue at Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center, went missing for more than 10 hours starting on the evening of December 23. She was found lying on […]

Read More
Tad Thomas Best Lawyers of 2024
Tad Thomas Best Law Firms of 2024
Tad Thomas on The National Crime Victim Bar Association
National Civil Justice Institute - Trustee
Tad Thomas on Lawyer Minds
Tad Thomas on American Association for Justice
Southern Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Ohio Association for Justice
Kentucky Justice Association
Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America
Martindale Hubbell Preeminent
2021 Public Justice Member
AAJ Masters of Trial Law: Champion