New Laws that You Should Know

One hundred eighty-three laws were enacted in Illinois on January 1, 2023. Here are a few that you should know about:

Orders of Protection

Orders of protection may now be filed online as well as in person. Counties with populations over 250,000 (including Winnebago County) must offer a remote hearing option.

One Day Rest in Seven Act

Most employees must get a full day of rest every seven days in addition to the regular period of rest at the close of the workday. Employees must also get a 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 continuous hours worked and another 20-minute break for every additional 4.5 hours.

Minimum Wage Increase

The minimum wage has been raised to $13 an hour for employees aged 18 and older and workers under 18 who work more than 650 hours a year. It has been raised to $10.50 an hour for employees under 18 who work less than 650 hours per year.

Source of Income Discrimination

An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on a person's source of income. For example, a landlord cannot decline to rent to a person because of their source of income, such as Social Security or a Section 8 voucher.

CROWN Act

The CROWN Act prohibits discrimination based on a person’s natural hair style or texture, categorizing it as racial discrimination. So, for example, an employer cannot tell a black employee that their dreadlocks are “unprofessional.”

Illinois Public Aid Code - Healthcare for Non-Citizens

Amendments to the Illinois Public Aid Code include that lower-income noncitizens aged 42 and older may now be eligible for healthcare coverage from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

For more information on laws that affect your rights, visit www.illinoislegalaid.org. To request no-cost legal help from Prairie State Legal Services, call us at (815) 965-2902 or visit our website at www.pslegal.org/apply.