ICYMI: Dozens of new state laws went into effect Jan. 1.
New Laws That Stood Out
In a first for the country, state libraries are prohibited from banning or removing books or resources for religious or partisan reasons.
You already know it’s illegal to text and drive, but now videoconferencing and using social media while operating your vehicle is banned, too.
See a sign that says a public place is smoke-free? That includes vapes, which you’re also not allowed to use within 15 feet of building entrances.
As residents have dealt with carjackings, car manufacturers and county sheriffs are now required to create a hotline to help drivers locate stolen vehicles using their GPS systems.
Narcan nasal spray at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. (Tribune)
Coming Later This Year
Come June 1, music venues across the state will be required to have staff trained to administer opioid overdose–reversal drugs. (Here’s why the work is so important.)
Chicago workers will have to wait until July to be guaranteed at least 10 days of paid time off a year. City Council voted last month to delay the ordinance.
