What Illinois Families Need to Know About 2026 Law Changes

A new year typically brings many new laws along with it, and here are four important laws going into effect that all Illinois families need to be aware of.

New 2026 Illinois Laws

On January 1, 2026 hundreds of new laws will go into effect in Illinois that will impact the health, safety, and education of all the people that live here.

I could sit here and list each one of the new laws for you, but that's way too much for our brains to comprehend, so let's focus on four of them I think will have the biggest impacts on the lives of many Illinois families.

1. The Sonya Massey Bill - Starting in 2026, law enforcement agencies will be mandated to conduct more detailed reviews of an applicant's previous employment and disciplinary histories to determine that they are both physically and psychologically fit for the job.

2. The Safe Schools For All Act - This law prohibits public schools in Illinois from denying education to undocumented K-12 students based on their immigration status.

3. Expanded Bullying and Cyberbullying Definition - Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, Illinois school code will be amended to include sharing sexual images or digitally created “deep-fake” (AI) likenesses of students without permission in anti-bullying rules.

4. The Safe Gun Storage Act - Starting January 1, 2026, gun owners in Illinois will be required to store firearms in a secure box anywhere that a minor, at-risk person, or someone banned from owning guns could access them. Gun owners who fail to do so could be fined up to $10,000.

Illinois will also be implementing several new laws involving education, health and wellness.  See the rundown of other important new laws Illinois families need to be aware of at nbcchicago.com.