Metro East Sun

The General Assembly has passed several new laws that will take effect on January 1, 2025. Among the 293 new laws, five have been highlighted for their potential impact.

House Bill 4255, sponsored by Rep. Amy Elik of Alton, aims to enhance safety for emergency responders and motorists at accident sites. The bill allows emergency responder vehicles to display flashing green lights in addition to the amber and white lights currently permitted. "Adding green lights to the amber and white currently in use provides better visibility," said Rep. Elik.

Senate Bill 275, backed by Rep. Ryan Spain of Peoria, seeks to reduce wait times at driver services facilities by extending the renewal period for driver's licenses from four years to eight years. "For those with safe driving records, providing the option to renew your driver’s license for eight years instead of four will cut your trips to the DMV in half," Spain noted.

Two new laws focus on increasing access to day care services. Senate Bill 3207, sponsored by Rep. Randy Frese of Paloma, permits day care centers to operate 24 hours a day if necessary due to parents' work schedules. Frese emphasized the importance of this flexibility: "Parents shouldn’t have to give up a good job because they can’t find childcare during their second or third shift working hours."

House Bill 4059, introduced by Rep. Jackie Haas of Kankakee, mandates that the Department of Children and Family Services hold licensing orientation programs twice annually in each representative district for prospective daycare providers. Haas described it as "the first step in addressing the shortage of daycare providers here in Illinois."

Lastly, Senate Bill 3350 addresses the ongoing fentanyl crisis by allowing the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a program for distributing fentanyl test strips. Leader McCombie stated, "We must continue to fight this epidemic," highlighting efforts at state level legislation.

These measures reflect legislative efforts aimed at improving public safety and convenience across various sectors.