Illinois residents are set to see some welcome changes in the new year, thanks to a slew of laws taking effect on January 1. First up is the elimination of the state's grocery tax, a 1% levy that was met with opposition from many municipalities and local governments.
While Illinois has opted out of the statewide tax, many communities still plan to impose their own grocery taxes, affecting around half of the state's population. This decision came after Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill in 2024 eliminating the tax at the state level, but allowing local governments to levy their own rates through ordinances.
On the other end of the spectrum, Illinois is also taking steps towards reducing plastic waste in hotels. A new law prohibits the use of small plastic bottles for toiletries like shampoo and conditioner unless specifically requested by guests, with a phase-in period over several years.
Meanwhile, authorities will now have an easier time removing squatters from homes without going through the lengthy eviction process. Senate Bill 1563 clarifies that police can enforce criminal trespassing charges against individuals who break into someone's residence.
A new law aimed at protecting Illinois' drinking water has also been passed. The Mahomet Aquifer, a main source of water for over half a million people, will no longer be open to carbon sequestration projects due to concerns over potential contamination risks.
Firefighters in the state will soon be required to wear safer gear, as manufacturers must provide written notice if their products contain PFAS – or "forever chemicals" linked to various forms of cancer. From 2026 onwards, hotels will no longer be allowed to sell turnout gear with PFAS, and a ban on such gear is set to come into effect in 2027.
In another move towards greater transparency, state lawmakers are now allowing public officials to request their personal information be redacted from online platforms.
Finally, Illinois has become the first state to codify the concept of rewilding – the restoration of natural habitats and ecosystems – as a conservation strategy.
While Illinois has opted out of the statewide tax, many communities still plan to impose their own grocery taxes, affecting around half of the state's population. This decision came after Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill in 2024 eliminating the tax at the state level, but allowing local governments to levy their own rates through ordinances.
On the other end of the spectrum, Illinois is also taking steps towards reducing plastic waste in hotels. A new law prohibits the use of small plastic bottles for toiletries like shampoo and conditioner unless specifically requested by guests, with a phase-in period over several years.
Meanwhile, authorities will now have an easier time removing squatters from homes without going through the lengthy eviction process. Senate Bill 1563 clarifies that police can enforce criminal trespassing charges against individuals who break into someone's residence.
A new law aimed at protecting Illinois' drinking water has also been passed. The Mahomet Aquifer, a main source of water for over half a million people, will no longer be open to carbon sequestration projects due to concerns over potential contamination risks.
Firefighters in the state will soon be required to wear safer gear, as manufacturers must provide written notice if their products contain PFAS – or "forever chemicals" linked to various forms of cancer. From 2026 onwards, hotels will no longer be allowed to sell turnout gear with PFAS, and a ban on such gear is set to come into effect in 2027.
In another move towards greater transparency, state lawmakers are now allowing public officials to request their personal information be redacted from online platforms.
Finally, Illinois has become the first state to codify the concept of rewilding – the restoration of natural habitats and ecosystems – as a conservation strategy.
. It's crazy how some communities are still trying to impose their own rates, though - it feels like we're just getting started with this fight. On the other hand, I'm super down for those hotels switching away from plastic bottles - it's a small change that adds up 
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. It's amazing how important it is to preserve our natural habitats and ecosystems. Let's hope this sets a precedent for other states to follow 
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. On one hand, no more grocery tax is like, a huge win for families struggling to make ends meet 
. But at the same time, all these local governments are gonna start charging their own taxes, so that might just offset the benefits for some folks 
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. Like, isnt that just adding more complexity to something thats supposed to be simple? And what about all the communities that arent big enough to just impose their own taxes? I mean, im all for local control and stuff, but this feels like a mess waiting to happen 
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. Im glad the state is taking steps to hold manufacturers accountable, but what about all the people who get sick from exposure? That's some heavy responsibility on the fire department and hotels to just start sending out recalls or something 
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. I mean, its time we started thinking about the health of our ecosystems over profit 
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I'm loving that the state decided to eliminate the tax, even if some cities still wanna impose their own prices. But hey, at least it's a step in the right direction for foodies everywhere.
Those plastic bottles are gone, and we're all better off for it. I'm also hyped that firefighters will have safer gear by 2026 – PFAS are such a no-go when it comes to cancer prevention.
. Not the most ideal solution, but I guess it's a start.
! I mean, who doesn't love saving money on groceries? 
. But I do wonder what's gonna happen when local governments start imposing their own taxes... will it affect our school lunch prices? 
. Our school's science teacher always says that clean air and water are super important for our health, so it's awesome to see the state prioritizing that too.
So I think it's awesome that IL is finally getting rid of that grocery tax. Like, who doesn't love saving money on their weekly shop? 
But at the same time, I'm kinda surprised that some communities are still gonna put up their own taxes... guess you can take the state outta the state, right? 
Plus, I love that IL's making moves on PFAS - those "forever chemicals" are super scary, and it's about time we get rid of 'em. 
And that law on redacting personal info from online platforms is just... *sigh* ...we all need more transparency, am I right? 
. The elimination of the grocery tax is a huge win for many residents, especially in areas where local governments are imposing their own taxes. I remember when my aunt had to shell out extra cash just because she lived in a certain part of the state... it's nice to know that's no longer gonna be an issue for people like her.
cant they just leave us alone? 
that's some serious transparency right there 
! i feel like the state is really stepping up its game when it comes to protecting residents' rights and the environment 
. i'm also loving the idea of rewilding as a conservation strategy - it's like we're giving nature a big ol' hug 
. can't wait to see all these changes roll out in 2025!
i'm all about restoring our planet's habitats and ecosystems. transparency on gov officials' personal info is also super important 
gotta know what we're getting into, right? all in all, IL just became my fave state 