There oughta be a law … and, in fact, there will be. Almost 300 new laws take effect in Illinois Jan. 1, and as has become customary around here I like to use the last few columns of December to review legislation that might not have gotten proper attention earlier in the year.
Some items are so obvious it’s surprising they weren’t in effect already. Consider Senate Bill 2601, which compels property owners to tell potential tenants if a specific unit has experienced flooding or if a property is within a FEMA Flood Hazard area. Or House Bill 5655, which forces public colleges and universities to have late work policies for students who miss deadlines because of military obligations.
Other bills are so narrow as to understandably escape notice: SB 1102 allows the Shelby County Board to create a volunteer rescue squad. HB 5574 lets DuPage County take money from an old road improvement impact fee and spend it on improvements related to road capacity.
Certain legislation is procedurally important but substantially arcane, like HB 5546 which makes technical and substantive changes to the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Or HB 4660, which takes duplicative language out of the Mechanics Lien Act.
That said, there are plenty of interesting changes taking effect next month. Let’s start with a bipartisan success: state Rep. Brad Stephens, R-Rosemont, sponsored HB 5408, which Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, carried in his chamber. Dubbed the O’Hare Driver Safety Act, the law makes it illegal to idle a car on the shoulder of any highway within a half mile of the airport’s eastern entrance or at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 294.
“This initiative is a proactive measure to ensure motorist safety on 190 and I-90 near the entrance to O’Hare Airport,” Stephens said in a May news release. “Countless drivers have been parking on the shoulders of these roadways awaiting traveler arrivals instead of using the conveniently located cell phone lots within the airport property.”
Stephens added that stationing police in those areas isn’t the most efficient staffing strategy, which is why the law orders the Illinois Tollway Authority to install automatic traffic safety cameras. Violations will cost offenders $100. (I’d spend ticket money on cellphone lot upgrades.)
Traffic cameras generally rankle my sensibilities, and even though I only make a few drives to O’Hare each year, this seems like an ideal blend of technology and law enforcement in the name of public safety. A major multiplier of airport driving stress is widespread ignorance of signs, markings and rules. If this change keeps traffic flowing smoothly and safely, it’ll be worthwhile.
A full list of the new legislation is available at tinyurl.com/2025newlawsIL.
• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Local News Network. Follow him on X @sth749. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.
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