Sangamon Sun

Starting July 1, Illinois will implement a range of new laws and tax increases as part of the state's $55.2 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which was passed by Democrats earlier this year.

Among the tax changes is an increase in the sports betting tax, with a per-wager fee of $0.25 for the first 20 million bets, rising to $0.50 thereafter. Companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have already adjusted their pricing in response. Additionally, short-term rental services such as Airbnb and Vrbo will now be subject to Illinois' Hotel Operators’ Occupation Tax, impacting travel costs for families within the state. The wholesale tax on tobacco products has also increased from 36% to 45%.

A significant new law taking effect is the ban on small single-use plastic bottles in hotels. The Small Single-Use Plastic Act prohibits hotels with 50 or more rooms from providing personal care products in these containers unless requested by guests. This requirement will extend to smaller hotels beginning January 1, 2026.

Other notable legislative changes include Public Act 103-0304, which mandates that state agencies collect employment data on individuals identifying as non-binary or gender non-conforming. Public Act 103-0682 waives fees for birth certificate requests made by the Office of the State Guardian, while Liam’s Law (Public Act 103-0948) allows parents to request a birth certificate for stillbirths occurring at or after 20 weeks.

Starting with the 2026–2027 school year, public schools are required to educate students about climate change's environmental effects. The State Board of Education will develop resources and training for educators once funding is secured.

The Access to Affordable Insulin Act reduces out-of-pocket insulin costs from $100 to $35 and introduces a discount program for post-rebate prices. Changes under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act expand eligibility for assisted living facilities to those needing non-routine catheter care.

Public Act 103-0845 mandates that state agencies provide opioid antagonists like Narcan and train staff in their use while protecting trained employees from civil liability under the Good Samaritan Act.

Language access improvements under Public Act 103-1056 require courts to offer foreign language interpreters at no cost for certain individuals, with judges now responsible for assessing interpretive needs proactively.

Finally, new legislation addressing sexual exploitation requires law enforcement agencies to seal records automatically related to Class 4 felony prostitution convictions eligible for expungement and updates terminology related to sexual exploitation cases.