Our friends at NBC 5 have rounded up 10 new laws that are taking place at the start of the new year. These are changes to expect on January 1, 2023.

End of Cash Bail

Under the provisions of the bill, as passed by the General Assembly, the state will allow judges to determine whether individuals accused of a specific set of felonies and violent misdemeanors pose a risk to another individual, or to the community at large. Judges will also be asked to determine whether the defendant poses a flight risk if released.

CROWN Act

The Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act, also known as the CROWN Act, is an amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act and aims to further combat discrimination in the state. According to the General Assembly, the bill “provides that ‘race,’ as used in the Employment Article, includes traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.”

New Student School Helpline

Passed in May, the Student Confidential Reporting Act, establishes a program where officials from schools, the state and Illinois State Police can receive reports and other information regarding the potential harm or self-harm of students or school employees. The Safe2Help helpline will involve a toll-free telephone number and other means of communication allowing messages and information to be given to operators. Details on the helpline can be found here.

Apprenticeship and Internship Pilot Program

The Act to the Job Training Assistance and Support Services Pilot Program Act will create a five-year pilot program aimed at offering assistance and support services, like transportation help or child care subsidies, to eligible people who may have otherwise struggled to complete an apprenticeship or internship.

Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Act

This new law will create a task force that will examine “the systemic causes behind violence that Chicago women and girls experience.” It also will look at “appropriate methods for tracking and collecting data on violence against Chicago women and girls, including data on missing and murdered Chicago women and girls” and will create new policies and practices “that impact violence against Chicago women and girls and the investigation and prosecution of crimes of gender-related violence against Chicago residents.”

Sports License Plate Changes

Under new Illinois Vehicle Code, the Secretary of State will be required to offer those seeking professional sports teams license plates the option to display the logo of the Chicago Sky, Chicago Fire or the Chicago Red Stars. It also removes the option to add the logo of the St. Louis Rams.

Single-Use Plastics

This law “prohibits the procurement and use of single-use plastic disposable foodware at State parks and natural areas.” And state agency or institution of higher education contract prioritizes bids that offer compostable or recyclable foodware.

Illinois’ New State Snake

Under an amendment to the state’s Designation Act, the Eastern Milksnake will become the official snake of the state of Illinois.

New Smoke Detector Rules

Beginning Jan. 1, the state’s Smoke Detector Act will be changed to state that any smoke detectors must have a “self-contained, non-removable, long term battery.” The change was approved in 2017, but did not take effect until Jan. 1, 2023.

Latex Glove Ban Act

Beginning Jan. 1, any food service establishment will be required to ban latex gloves in the preparation and handling of food. It also prohibits such gloves by emergency personnel. Health care workers will be required to ban the gloves after Jan. 1, 2024.

Mulligan’s Pub & Grill in Rockford is under fire after a man was photographed in front of a chalkboard sign that read, “If you have an O/P (order of protection) against your ex – he’s welcome. Your not.” The picture has been spread on social media, notably by the Women’s March Rockford Facebook page, who said, “The owner of Mulligan’s in Rockford made the decision to pose with this sign, which condones domestic violence, and then allegedly post it to the business page. We have no tolerance for anyone or any business that promotes, condones, or makes light of domestic violence. There is no valid argument as to why this is acceptable in any kind of way. We hope that the owner contacts the family peace center and allows them to educate him on the statistics of domestic violence and how it not only impacts individuals, but also entire communities.”

The bar responded on Facebook by saying, “First of all, we are sorry for anyone that is offended… In no way do we advocate domestic violence or minimize O/P’s significance… we apologize for the choice of words and absolutely do not support this statement in any way.”

They went on to claim that the signage was “meant for a specific person” who would visit the bar and had an O/P against a “regular” at the establishment.

If you are experiencing domestic violence and need help, please contact:

Rockford Family Peace Center

Remedies: Renewing Lives

During a school board meeting on Tuesday night, administrators for Elmhurst District 205 made the announcement that no students will face criminal charges for their actions in an online video that surfaced earlier this week that shows students pushing down a student with Down syndrome in a bathroom brawl. Per CBS News, “The school board said the students involved will be facing significant disciplinary consequences – although they would not specify what that entails, citing confidentiality laws.”

The family of the student with special needs said even though they are choosing not to press charges, they do appreciate the school handling the disciplinary action against the students involved.

Students are calling for a variety of punishments, from expulsion to a school-wide sports suspension.

The SNL-turned-box office superstar joins the likes of Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in receiving this prestigious comedic award. According to the Kennedy Center, the Mark Twain Prize “recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, best
known as Mark Twain.”

Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement, “Adam has created characters that have made us laugh, cry, and cry from laughing.” Sander’s movie credits include Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Grown Ups, Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer, to name a few.

Did Sandler deserve this award? The conversation lives on Facebook!

A video has surfaced of students at York High School in Elmhurst bullying a special needs student. In a letter to parents, the school’s superintendent described the events depicted in the video as “an aggressive physical altercation by a student toward another student with a disability, while a group of bystanders watched and laughed.”

This video is disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Students are considering a walk out on Friday to show support for the victim.

Our hearts go out to the student, the family, and anyone else affected in Elmhurst.

The Long Beach rapper-turned-media mogul is being thwarted in his attempt to change the cereal game. In August, Mr. Dogg, alongside Master P of the No Limit Soldiers, launched “Snoop Loopz”, a cereal that donates a portion of sales to Snoop’s homeless charity, Future Bosses. Now, for reasons that are unclear at press time, the rapper is being asked to discontinue his cereal. This is likely due to Kellogs and their Fruit Loops brand. In an Instagram video, Snoop noted, “There’s enough room for all of us to be successful…This is bigger than us, we are fighting for the next generation of entrepreneurs. We’re no longer just being consumers, we’re educating the culture building our own brands, and passing down generational wealth.”

The rapper is now soliciting new names for his cereal.

When Dave Chappelle isn’t taking shots at trans people, the supposed anti-establishment comedian is hanging out with one of the richest men in the world. For all of the grandstanding and posturing that Chappelle has done throughout his career over being against the “elite” and the “industry”, he found immense comfort in ponying up to Musk during his surprise appearance at Chappelle’s San Fransisco show. The comedian was able to fire off a few punch lines while Musk stood there, blubbering and uncomfortable, but that didn’t stop the two from retreating backstage as boos continued to fill the arena.

Musk has taken to his own app to insist that he wasn’t being owned in a series of deleted tweets, claiming that it was “90% boos to 10% cheers” and that “a large fight broke out in the audience right when he took the stage”.

Hopefully this becomes a growing trend whenever Musk finds himself in front of an audience.