New IL Laws 2021

CHICAGO

Minimum Wage

• Jan. 1, 2021 – IL state min wage increase to $11/hr.
• July 1, 2021 – Chicago’s minimum wage will increase to $15/hour at large businesses and $14.50/hour for workers at businesses with 20 or fewer employees.
• Also on July 1, the minimum wage for tipped workers will increase to $9.00 an hour, with employees required to make up the difference if base wage plus tips do not equal $15.00 an hour.

Shared Housing effective April 1, 2021 – Those who use Airbnb or HomeAway, and other similar platforms, to rent their residential units will now need to apply directly with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and pay a new $125 registration fee.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Legalization May 1, 2021 – Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) will be legalized in five areas around the city. The new program will mean attics, basements and coach houses will be lawfully permitted in certain zones.

Extension of Business Relief -Existing sidewalk cafes can continue to operate until May 1, 2021 without needing to renew or pay a renewal fee. -All expired business and vehicle licenses between March 15, 2020 and June 15, 2021 will not need to pay a renewal fee until July 15, 2021. Those with expired licenses during that time will have until July 15, 2021 to renew without paying a late fee.

Vehicle Fuel Tax and Cloud Tax effective Jan. 1, 2021 – Vehicle fuel tax increased by $0.03 per gallon -There will also be a 1.75 percentage point increase to the cloud tax, which, according to the mayor’s office, is applied to “computer leases of cloud software and cloud infrastructure.” The tax increases were part of the city’s plan to close an historic $1.2 billion deficit.

Parking Meter Rates effective Jan. 2, 2021 – Parking meter rates for the $2-per-hour zone increased to $2.25 per hour. Rates in the $4.50 and $7.00 zone remain unchanged. Automated Speed Enforcement -Beginning on March 1, anyone driving 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit in speed camera zones will receive a ticket. -Those traveling 6-10 MPH over the speed limit will be fined $35 and vehicles driving 11 miles or more over the speed limit will be fined $100.

ILLINOIS

Cap on Insulin Costs – Senate Bill 667 caps out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 per month for all patients using a state-regulated insurance plan.

Use of DNA for Missing Persons Cases – House Bill 2708 establishes a process by which law enforcement can use DNA in attempting to locate and identify a missing person. The measure allows law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples of a missing person or to try and create a reference sample from family members.

Survivors Can Keep Addresses Confidential – House Bill 2818 allows survivors of sexual assault and stalking to keep their home addresses confidential to reduce the risk that their attacker may locate them.

No New Income Tax Brackets – While Senate Bill 687 was scheduled to take effect in the new year, it no longer will – amendment changing the state from a flat tax structure – one rate for all, currently 4.95% – to a graduated or progressive income tax, which taxes higher-earning individuals at higher rates.