Hundreds of laws and amendments will go into effect in Illinois in 2025.

A higher minimum wage will be implemented. Legislators crack down on youth vaping, and several health insurance mandates are added.

Here are a few changes coming after the Times Square ball drops.

Minimum wage

Minimum wage in the state will climb to $15 per hour, coming from $14 per hour.

Employees who receive tips will see a rise in minimum wage to $9 per hour from $8.40 per hour.

Pay transparency

Employers with 15 or more employees will be required to disclose pay scale and benefit information in job postings.

The change is result of an amendment to the Equal Pay Act of 2003 that was contained in HB 3129, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023.

Canceling gym memberships

A new law will make it easier for you to cancel your gym membership. House Bill 4911 passed in the summer and will allow people to cancel gym memberships either via email or their gym’s website.

Landlord retaliation

It is against public policy of the State for a landlord to take retaliatory action against a tenant. The law spells out that a landlord may not evict someone, increase rent, decrease service, or file a lawsuit against them provided that the tenant acts in ways that are outlined.

Youth vaping

The amendment to the Preventing Youth Vaping Act restricts a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer from advertising, marketing, or promoting an electronic cigarette "in a manner that is likely to cause a parent, legal guardian, teacher, or other adult to mistake the electronic cigarette for a product that is not a tobacco product."

More:Springfield business owner warns of potential consequences of anti-youth vaping measure

Purchasing e-cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes can no longer be shipped through the mail or other remote methods to anyone under 21 years old.

Digital driver’s licenses

The law allows the Secretary of State to issue digital drivers licenses or state IDs. The digital ID would be issued in addition to a physical ID. The law allows agencies and private entities to choose if they want to accept electronic IDs in place of physical ones, but upon request by law enforcement, physical ID must be presented.

Epinephrine injectors

Insurance companies must limit the total price for medically necessary epinephrine injectors for children and teens to $60 for a twin-pack.

Hearing devices

Insurance plans must now provide coverage for medically necessary hearing instruments for all individuals, rather than just those under the age of 18.

Strengthening community media

Citing a need for local news services and trusted information in Illinois communities, along with local news struggling due to dropping advertising, the law calls for notice of sale of potential news organizations and creation of a journalism scholarship.

A local news organization will be required to provide written notice 120 days before a sale occurs to affected employees and the county government, as well as any Illinois nonprofit “in the business of buying local news organizations.”

The law also will create a Journalism Student Scholarship Program to encourage academically talented Illinois students to pursue careers in journalism, especially those in underserved areas of the state.   

For a full list of new laws, go to the Illinois General Assembly website.

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.