On January 1, 2016, 237 new laws will take effect in Illinois. Be aware of what’s coming so you can be in compliance.

Several of the new laws affect children, veterans and the elderly. Others

affect drivers and consumers.

Several new laws pertain to the welfare of Illinois citizens. Here are a few of the more noteworthy

new laws that take effect on January 1st, 2016.

Fighting Synthetic Drug Sales

PA 99-0371/SB 1129Strengthens drug laws as they relate to synthetic marijuana and other synthetic drugs by banning the substances’ underlying chemical structures.

Video Cameras in Nursing Homes

PA 99-0430/HB 2462Allows families to legally install monitoring cameras in the nursing home rooms occupied by their loved ones.

Police Body Cameras, Increased Fines for Moving Violations

PA 99-0352/SB 1304Establishes new rules and regulations for police officers who wear body cameras, and also increases the fines for moving violations by up to 12.5%.

Keeping Drunk Drivers off the Road

PA 99-0467/SB 627Requires individuals convicted of two or more DUIs or reckless homicide convictions to install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device for a minimum of five years as a condition of a restricted driving permit.

Banning Powdered Alcohol, Limiting Sales of Powdered

Caffeine PA 99-0050/SB 009 and PA 99-0051/SB 067 Prohibits the sale of powdered caffeine to anyone younger than 18 years of age, and prohibits the sale of products consisting of or containing powdered alcohol.

Reducing False 9-1-1 Calls

PA 00-0160/HB 3988Requires those making false or prank 9-1-1 calls to reimburse the costs incurred by the responding emergency agency up to $10,000.

“Right to Try” for Terminally-Ill Patients

PA 99-0270/HB1335Allows medical professionals to provide terminally-ill patients with access to clinical-trial or experimental medical treatments.

Civics Education Requirement

PA 99-0434/HB4025Requires high school students to take one semester of civics education as a part of their two-year social studies graduation requirement.

Equal Pay in the Workplace

PA 99-0418/HB 3619Guarantees all women working in Illinois will receive equal pay for equal work.

Targeting Ticket Scammers

PA 99-0431/HB3103Strengthens protections for people who buy event tickets through brokers or resellers.

Strengthening Childcare Standards

PA 99-0346/SB 013Improves monitoring standards for DCFS-licensed childcare facilities and review calls and reports of abuse/neglect investigations.

First Offense Speeders

PA 99-0212/HB1453Allows defendants charged with speeding 26 mph or more above the speed limit to be eligible for court supervision if they have not been previously convicted of a similar offense.

Protecting Seniors

PA 99-0302/SB 090Protects disabled senior citizens from being victimized by scammers who try to talk them into changing their wills for personal gain.

Higher Education Credits

PA 99-0468/SB 760Requires community colleges to accept up to 30 credit hours from an approved list of non-degree granting institutions in the areas of medical assisting or coding, dental assisting, HVAC, welding and pharmacy technician.

Strengthening Student Teacher Standards

PA 99-0021/ SB 706Requires student teacher applicants to submit to a finger print analysis and requires school districts to verify that applicants are not on the sex offender, child murderer or violent offender against youth registries.

Obama Library/George Lucas Museum

PA 99-0003/ HB 373Gives the City of Chicago legal authority to build a President Barack Obama Presidential Library and a George Lucas Museum on park land.

Honoring our Military

PA 99-0372/ HB 2932Adds military personnel killed during on duty training activities to the list of instances when flags will fly at half-staff.

Designating a State Pie

PA 99-0364/ HB 208Designates pumpkin pie as the official state pie of Illinois.

If you would like to read a complete list of all new laws taking effect on January 1,

click here.