Immediately upon ringing in the New Year, 253 new laws will become effective in 2019 that have wide-ranging impact. Here are few of those laws Illinois families should know about:
- Children under the age of 2 years old must be restrained in rear-facing car seats unless they weigh 40 or more pounds or are 40 or more inches tall. (PA100-0672)
- Every Illinois school will be required to conduct at least one law-enforcement led active shooter drill a year. School safety drills must be conducted within 90 days of the start of the school year. (PA100-0996)
- Nursing mothers upon request will be exempt from jury duty. (PA100-0696)
- Stalking laws expanded to include messages sent through social media. Additionally, businesses, places of worship and schools can seek restraining orders against stalkers.
- The Lyme Disease Prevention and Protection Act was enacted opening the door in Illinois for new treatments for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. (PA100-1137)
- All children in kindergarten and the second, sixth, and ninth grades of any public, private or parochial school shall have a dental examination. (PA100-829)