More than 200 new laws for Illinois will be made official on January 1. Here are 10 worth noting:
- Your mobile phone and home internet could be added to your expense report. Does your boss require you to use your personal phone and computer to do work stuff? Well, then your boss needs to have a reimbursement policy.
- Guess-the-rap-sheet will no longer be a carnival game. Criminal background checks have to be done for all carnival workers.
- Pink is the new camo. Hunters can wear blaze pink during hunting season.
- It can wait. Penalties increase for texting-and-driving. Three moving violations will get you a license suspension.
- Get your kicks. Route 66 will be commemorated with a series of special events to celebrate its centennial.
- Stalking laws expand to messages sent and received through social media apps.
- Sucks that this has to be a thing. Active shooter/threat drills have to happen within 90 days of the start of the school year, with law enforcement required to observe the drills.
- 72-hour waiting period. All firearms (not just handguns) will require a 72-hour waiting period. The current 24-hour wait for stun guns and tasers is unchanged.
- New mothers have enough going on already. Nursing mothers don’t have to participate in jury duty. Bad news for them: They miss that sweet Lester Holt video!
- Save the pets. Dogs and cats exposed to harmful weather conditions can be taken into temporary police custody.
