Illinois residents will soon see new laws go into effect on January 1st, 2025. There were several bills passed through the Illinois statehouse during Spring session. Governor Pritzker has signed many into law including minimum wage increase, digital driver’s licenses, and replacing the term ‘offender’ with ‘justice impacted individuals’.
New Laws
Minimum Wage
Minimum wage is set to increase to $15/hour with tipped workers also receiving an increase from $8.40 an hour to $9 an hour.
Disabled Workers
The Dignity in Pay Act was amended to eliminate 14(c) certificate programs in Illinois. 14 (c) programs allowed employers to pay people with disabilities a subminimum wage for their service. Republicans argued eliminating these programs would ultimately cost individuals with disabilities their job.
Digital Driver’s Licenses
This new law allows governmental agencies and businesses to accept either digital IDs or physical IDs.
E-Verify
This controversial law prohibits Illinois employers from voluntarily enrolling in the E-Verify program or similar Electronic Employment Verification System unless they are required to by federal or state law. Simply put, the law prohibits employers to verify if applicants can legally work in the United States.
More laws going into effect in 2025 can be found here.