The start of 2025 means hundreds of new laws will impact Chicagoans in the new year.
The updated regulations cover a range of topics including healthcare, labor rights, driver’s license mandates, and more.
Here are a few of the new laws that will have a positive effect on our everyday lives in the Windy City!
Minimum wage is going up
Minimum wage in Chicago will officially hit $15/hr beginning January 1, 2025, and increase from the previous minimum of $14/hr.
Employees earning tipped minimum wage will earn $9 an hour, up from the previous tipped minimum wage of $8.40/hr.
Cancelling gym memberships is about to get easier
Chicagoans will no longer have to travel to their gym’s physical location in order to cancel their membership starting in 2025.
Under House Bill 4911, all gyms must provide a way for members to cancel their plans via the gym’s website or through email.
The law targets policies which allow gyms to continue collecting fees on inactive memberships by making the cancellation process unnecessarily difficult.
Digital driver’s licenses are about to be a thing
Beginning in 2025, the Secretary of State’s office will begin allowing Illinois license holders to download a mobile version of their ID card.
Illinois residents will have the option to access the mobile IDs through a secure app. Law enforcement and other officials must accept the mobile IDs as a valid form of identification, according to NBC.
License Plate Replacements Will Be Free of Charge For Theft Victims
Getting your license plate stolen in Illinois used to mean paying a replacement fee, but that’s about to change thanks to a new law!
Starting in 2025, license plate replacements will be free for victims of theft.
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, victims of auto theft will receive a new free plate after submitting documentation showing proof of the incident.
The bill was spearheaded by State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
“When an auto theft occurs, we need to make it as easy as possible for the victim to get back on their feet and back on the road,” Sims said in a statement.
EpiPens are getting cheaper
A new law going into effect next year mandates that Illinois Health insurance companies cap medically vital epinephrine pens at $60 for a two pack.
A report by We Are Central Illinois found that EpiPens currently cost as much as $500-$700 for a two pack, or $300-$400 for a single vial.
The new law will make medically necessary medication more accessible for thousands of Illinoisans.
Employers must display pay information in job listings
All Illinois employers of more than 15 employees must disclose payment and benefits information in job postings beginning in 2025.
The new regulation is an amendment to the Equal Pay Act which was passed in 2003.