During the spring legislative session, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed 124 of 436 bills into law, addressing a wide range of issues including environmental protection, public safety, healthcare, and labor rights. Notably, a bill was enacted to ban carbon sequestration near the Mahomet Aquifer, safeguarding the drinking water for over a million residents in central Illinois amid concerns about leaks from existing sequestration wells. Another significant law enhances pension benefits for Chicago first responders under the Tier 2 system, despite warnings about increased city liabilities and budget challenges. Other key measures require libraries to stock opioid overdose medication, regulate AI use in mental health therapy, mandate paid breaks for nursing mothers, and introduce training on implicit bias and trauma-informed care for healthcare providers and police officers.
Additional legislation includes establishing a commission to preserve Underground Railroad sites, empowering the Illinois Commerce Commission to regulate predatory towing practices, and requiring insurance coverage for anesthesia throughout medical procedures. Therapeutic horseback riding will be covered by insurance starting in 2026, and new school buses purchased after 2031 must be equipped with seat belts. These laws reflect a broad effort to enhance public health, safety, and equity across the state, with many provisions set to take effect in the coming years.
