These 6 Laws Go Into Effect Today In Illinois: Gas Tax Up, New Minimum Wages And More

ILLINOIS — A slate of new laws go into effect Monday in Illinois, including rules regarding the gas tax rate and driver’s license eligibility at the state level as well as minimum wages and paid leave in the Chicago area.

Here are six to look out for.

Prepare to pay more at the pump

As of Monday, the state’s gas tax is 47 cents per gallon for the next year, up from 45.4 cents per gallon during the last 12 months, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The tax has risen three times since early 2023 after remaining flat at 39.2 cents from mid-2021 through late 2022.

Minimum wages up in Chicago, Cook County

Starting Monday in Chicago, minimum wage employees will earn $16.20 per hour instead of $15.80 (or $15 for small employers), according to Mayor Brandon Johnson. Tippers workers will go from earning $9.48 (or $9 for small employers) to $11.02.

The minimum wage will also no longer be tiered for large and small businesses.

Since reaching $15 in 2021, the minimum wage increases annually by 2.5 percent or in alignment with changes to the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

Minimum wage workers in Cook County will also see a pay bump Monday, going from $13.70 per hour for non-tipped employees and $8 for tipped workers to $14.05 and $8.40, respectively, according to the county.

Chicago workers get paid leave

Another change Monday for employees in Chicago is guaranteed paid leave, Johnson said. Workers who put in at least 80 hours in a 120-day period can now accrue up to five days of paid leave and five days of sick leave, which is also compensated.

Driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants

As of Monday, immigrants who are undocumented will be eligible for a standard four-year driver’s license in the state instead of the temporary visitor driver’s license previously offered, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Applicants still must pass a driving test, have valid insurance, present identifying documents and prove they’ve lived in Illinois for at least a year.

Influencer parents must pay up

Starting Monday, vloggers who feature a child under 16 in at least 30 percent of compensated content over a 30-day period must create a trust account containing gross earnings from at least half the content in which the minor was featured, according to the law's legislative text. The child can take legal action against the vlogger if they do not comply.