Effective January 1, 2025, Illinois will enforce new amendments to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide detailed pay scale and benefits information in all job postings. This legislative change, part of HB 3129 signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker […]
State of Illinois
New distracted driving law goes into effect on July 1
Beginning July 1, the Illinois secretary of state will be able to revoke driving privileges for one year when a driver causes “great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement” due to use of an electronic communication device. The offense is also subject to a minimum $1,000 fine. Electronic communication devices […]
Illinois minimum wage to increase July 1
Illinois minimum wage workers will see an increase in their pay Wednesday. July 1 will bring the second statewide minimum wage increase in 2020. In January, minimum wage went from $8.25 per hour to $9.25. The upcoming increase will move to $10 per hour. Wages for tipped workers will rise […]
Unemployment rate 15.2 percent in May; state on pace to enter Phase 4 on June 26
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ unemployment rate fell to 15.2 percent in May, according to the state Department of Employment Security, representing a 2 percent drop from the previous month. Nonfarm payrolls added 62,200 jobs in May based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. […]
Illinois residents can now preregister online for driver’s license or identification card
In an attempt to cut down on wait times and long lines at the DMV, Secretary of State Jesse White announced that Illinois residents can preregister online when applying for a driver’s license or identification card. Customers may go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com to access the preregistration application for driver’s licenses and […]
Pritzker expands vote by mail, makes election day a state holiday
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Anyone who cast a ballot in the last three years or who registered to vote or changed addresses after the March primary will be sent an application to vote by mail after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill expanding the program […]
Slight increase in Illinois motor fuel tax scheduled for July 1
The Illinois gas tax will increase again on July 1, 2020. The automatic increase is part of the 2019 legislative session that doubled the motor fuel tax—from $.19 to $.38 as part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s $45 billion Rebuild Illinois plan. The law also allows for the tax to increase […]
Pritzker signs budget, touts spending of federal funds on child care grants
Financial uncertainty still swirls as COVID-19 continues to impact tax revenues By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker signed a state budget for fiscal year 2021 Wednesday, but there is no more financial clarity now than there was when lawmakers passed the measure last month. […]
New Illinois jobless claims slow in last week of May
State revenues fall 23% during the month By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — While new unemployment claims remained historically high in the final week of May, the surge of new claims since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be starting to slow as a number […]
Phase 3 Guidance on Illinois summer school released
By Dani Tietz dani@sjodaily.com The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released guidance on in-person instruction for summer school Thursday. Part Two of the Transition Plan Advisory Workgroup’s recommendations for transitioning to in-person instruction provides recommendations for how schools can comply with IDPH […]