WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
Governor JB Pritzker promised BIG THINGS for Illinois. With Democrats holding super majorities in the House and Senate, many of these promises will become law on January 1, 2020. Democrats’ plan for a phased-in $15/hour minimum wage begins. So are the rules ensuring the decriminalization and legal recreational use of cannabis. No matter how dysfunctional Trump’s foreign policies are, Illinois is working, and Democrats are getting BIG THINGS DONE.
More than 250 new laws are scheduled to go into effect at the first of the year. We at the IDCCA have found an interesting highlight of new measures from the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus. Here’s a sample of what’s worth knowing:
THE FIGHT FOR $15
For the first time in nearly a decade, Illinois is raising its minimum wage. It increases from $8.25 to $9.25 on January 1, and to $15 by 1/1/2025.
KEEPING UP WITH CANNABIS
Hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans already use cannabis; January 1, adults will be able to buy it legally from a well-regulated market.
GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED
You leave a tip for a great server – not their boss. Starting 1/1/2020, the law says tips must go to the employee – not the employer
DEFENDING DNA
Your genes are your business. Companies like ancestry.com and 23andMe won’t be able to share your ancestry test results with health or life insurance companies without consent.
DROP IT AND DRIVE
The next episode can wait. Illinoisans will no longer be able to watch streaming video while driving.
PET PROJECT
Rest easier when you board your pets. Dog and cat kennels must be equipped with a fire sprinkler or alarm system if the kennel is always not staffed .
YOU’RE IN!
Starting in 2020, Illinois high schoolers in the top 10% of their class are guaranteed acceptance into NIU, EIU, SIU and WIU.
WE HAVE YOU COVERED
Your next doctor’s visit won’t break the bank. In 2020, insurers must cover EpiPens, skin cancer screenings and diagnostic mammograms.
There’s a lot that has been accomplished in less than a year since Republican Bruce Rauner was removed from office. The Rebuild Illinois plan to invest billions in infrastructure, new training initiatives develop workforce skills, and important protections for those in need of life-sustaining medicines are game changers for millions of families. But there’s many more. For a listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect when the clock strikes 12:00 AM on January 1, find it here from the Senate Democrats.
