Senate Republicans List New State Laws – 24

A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, continues.

Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.

The State Senate meets on the third floor of the north side of the Illinois State Capitol.

However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.

A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, follows.

Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.

However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.

Taxes and Fees

Exempts MABAS Land from Taxation (HB 1206/PA 98-0206): This legislation exempts property owned by the board of a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) from taxation. MABAS works with fire services, EMS professionals, and other personnel to create a resource response plan to any location when the Governor orders a declaration of disaster.

Department of Revenue Updates (HB 3157/PA 98-0478): This is an Illinois Department of Revenue 2013 Omnibus Income Tax Proposal. The measure would update and streamline certain business tax forms and regulations.

Department of Revenue Omnibus (SB 2169/PA 98-0496): Represents the Illinois Department of Revenue’s 2013 Omnibus Enforcement Proposal. Among the provisions included, the measure allows the Revenue Department to deny a certificate of registration to a retailer who is in default on taxes due, provides a six-year statute of limitation on notices of deficiency when a taxpayer understates their withholding by more than 25% and also extends the statute of limitations for certain businesses that file an Illinois return.

Truck/SUV Rental Taxes (SB 1772/PA 98-0574): Expands the exemption on sales taxes for rental vehicles to include trucks and SUVs used primarily for transporting passengers.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Vehicular Regulation/Safety

License Plates – Wild Turkey and Childhood Cancer (HB 2754/ PA 98-0066): Provides for the issuance of National Wild Turkey Federation license plates. Creates the National Wild Turkey Federation Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. An amendment was added to create a curing Childhood Cancer Fund and the Curing Childhood Cancer Plates.

License plates have been approved for Choose Life license plate on which Jack Franks blocked a floor vote.

This year license plates have been approved for wild turkey hunters, diabetes awareness Aldheimer’s awareness, nurses, the Red Cross, the Illinois Police Association, retired law enforcement officers, the H Foundation-Committed to a Cure for Cancer, public safety drivers, K-9 Memorial, and Prince Hall Masons. Choose Life license plates, the proceeds of the sale of which would go to adoption agencies, did not make the cut again. In past years, Jack Franks has blocked a floor vote.

License Plates – Diabetes Awareness (HB 1815/PA 98-0096): Creates Diabetes Awareness license plates. The fee for the plate will initially be $40 with $25 going toward Juvenile Diabetes research.

IDOT Flashing Lights (HB 774/PA 98-0123): Allows the use of red or white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on vehicles belonging to the Illinois Department of Transportation designated as Emergency Traffic Patrol.

License Plates – Illinois Nurses (SB 1383/PA 98-0150): Creates the Illinois Nurses License Plate.

License Plates – Red Cross (SB 1439/PA 98-0151): Creates an American Red Cross License Plate with a portion of the proceeds going into a new Red Cross Fund. Money in the Fund will be paid as grants to the American Red Cross subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

Window Tints (SB 1524/PA 98-0153): Preempts home rule with respect to window tinting of automobiles. State law establishes a maximum level of tint. The intent of this bill is to prohibit municipalities from mandating a lighter tint. This would prevent motorists for being ticketed while driving in cities they don’t normally visit.

Kelsey’s Law (HB 1009/PA 98-0168): Creates “Kelsey’s Law” dealing with the issuance of Graduated Driver’s Licenses for minors with traffic citations. A fifteen year old girl, Kelsey, was walking with two friends on the side of the roadway one evening where there was no sidewalk. She was struck by a truck driven by a 15-year-old boy who had his instruction permit. The boy was able to obtain his Graduated Driver’s License a few days later because the current form did not require him to disclose he had a pending traffic ticket.

Secretary of State (SB 1871/PA 98-0178): This is an omnibus measure requested by the Secretary of State dealing with out of state license cancellation, out of state traffic citations and security judgments less than $5.

License Plates – Illinois Police Association (HB 1817/PA 98-0233): Provides for the issuance of the Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association license plates.

Uninsured Motorists (HB 2393/PA 98-0242): Eliminates the requirement that automobile insurers must provide information about the availability of uninsured motorist coverage when a policy is being renewed. Buyers must still be told about uninsured motorist coverage when buying a new policy, but not every time they renew coverage.

License Plates – Alzheimer’s Awareness (HB 2822/PA 98-0259): Creates Alzheimer’s Disease awareness license plates. An additional fee of $25 with $10 at issuance and $23 at renewal going into a newly created Alzheimer’s Awareness Fund to be paid as grants to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association.


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