As the new year approaches, Illinois residents will see 392 new laws come into effect on January 1, 2026. These laws address a range of issues including education, healthcare, insurance, veterans’ support, women’s health, and efforts to combat human trafficking.
In K-12 education, House Bill 2801 requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to create a list of approved opportunities related to career and technical education pathways. House Bill 2802 allows students excused absences for participating in supervised career development experiences not necessarily directed by a teacher. Other measures include improvements to dual-language program standards (HB 3026), expanded options for middle schoolers earning high school credits (HB 3039), and broader access to American Sign Language courses (SB 1920).
Parents of students with special needs will see strengthened communication requirements through House Bill 1366. This law mandates timely notification about special education services and meetings and clarifies that parents can bring knowledgeable individuals to Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. House Bill 3500 ensures families receive information about ABLE savings accounts for students with certain disabilities.
Two laws focus on classroom safety: Senate Bill 1329 allows the State Superintendent to notify schools if an employee is under investigation for misconduct threatening student safety; House Bill 1787 requires substitute teachers to complete basic training in school safety drills.
At the higher education level, public universities and community colleges must provide licensed mental health professionals either part-time on campus or full-time on or off campus under House Bill 3385.
Insurance changes include requirements for coverage of neonatal intensive care at out-of-network facilities during emergencies (HB 2464), cognitive assessments before admission to Alzheimer’s units in assisted living facilities (HB 3328), and insurance coverage for therapeutic horseback riding services for qualifying individuals with disabilities (SB 69).
Public health-related legislation includes provisions allowing essential support persons visitation rights in certain group homes during emergencies (HB 57), certification of law enforcement therapy dog teams (SB 1491), improved emergency preparedness in long-term care facilities via accessible defibrillators (HB 1287), extended organ donor leave protections to part-time public employees (HB 1616), expanded authority for trained individuals to administer epinephrine auto-injectors during emergencies (“Dillon’s Law,” HB 2462), tighter regulations on ephedrine product sales (HB 2874), required reporting of opioid overdoses by EMS providers (HB 3645), patient information about non-opioid pain management options (SB1238), enhanced guardian training requirements for adults with disabilities’ guardianships (HB2562), easier prescription pickup by hospice organizations’ staff members (HB3849), and stricter testing for heavy metals in baby food production batches (SB73).
Veterans will benefit from reduced barriers when applying for SNAP benefits under SB32, which grants categorical eligibility if household income is at or below twice the federal poverty guideline. Senate Bill 2175 gives employed veterans four paid days per year for medical care authorized by Veterans Affairs at any provider or facility. Scholarship grant eligibility has also been expanded for dependents of veterans through HB2572.
Women’s health measures include extended pregnancy- and postpartum-related healthcare coverages under HB5282, broadened hormone therapy insurance coverage under HB5295, required insurance coverage for enhanced breast imaging among women at higher risk due to dense breast tissue under HB4180, and increased access to maternity care through expanded midwife practice rules under HB2688.
The legislature has taken several steps against human trafficking: SB1422 increases frontline worker training; HB2602 extends statutes of limitations on trafficking crimes; SB2323 streamlines victim support services; and HB1302 enhances victim rights procedures regarding sexual assault and domestic violence cases.
Harriss was elected as a Republican state senator representing Illinois’ 56th Senate District in the Illinois State Senate beginning in January of the previous year.
