Happy New Year!
New laws take effect January 1
 Legislative activity during 2020 was very light as the Governor ordered shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not surprisingly, the list of bills passed by lawmakers and signed by the Governor is very short.
Capping insulin price increases (Senate Bill 667)
The 1.3 million Illinoisans whose health relies on insulin each day will benefit from a new law that caps increases in the drug’s costs.
Senate Bill 667 caps the amount insulin prices can rise each year at the level of inflation, stopping price spikes that could otherwise make the important medication unaffordable. The new law specifically ties the price increase to the medical care component of the Consumer Price Index, which is determined by the United States Department of Labor.
The new law also requires the Illinois Departments of Insurance, Human Services, and Health and Family Services to investigate pricing practices for insulin. The goal of the investigations will be to determine what causes price spikes, and to protect patients from sudden increases. The agencies will also be required to compile and publish a report on their findings.
Missing persons reporting (House Bill 2708)
A new law will modernize the search for missing persons and provide law enforcement professionals with access to updated tools, processes and databases available to help locate missing persons.
House Bill 2708 stipulates that law enforcement may attempt to obtain a DNA sample from a missing person’s DNA or a reference sample from family members’ DNA samples, and may also submit DNA to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
Confidentiality for stalking victims (House Bill 2818)
Another new law will expand protections for victims of sexual assault or stalking. The program had previously only provided address confidentiality for domestic violence victims.
House Bill 2818 allows victims of sexual assault or stalking to apply for the address confidentiality program. Address confidentiality could help prevent future assault or stalking by keeping the victim’s address out of public record.
Minimum wage to increase January 1
 Illinois’ minimum wage will increase to $11 per hour with the start of the New Year – the third in a series of incremental steps that will bring the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. The first increase to $9.25 per hour came on January 1, 2020, and the second step to $10.00 per hour came on July 1, 2020.
Opponents to the series of minimum wage increases cite the additional cost burdens on small-business owners across the state, as well as repercussions for employers across the board, including public universities, school districts, and not-for-profit organizations.
To help offset increased costs to the business community, small businesses are encouraged to take advantage of a tax credit available to businesses and nonprofits with 50 full-time equivalent employees or fewer. The Minimum Wage Credit will allow small businesses a maximum credit of 25 percent of the difference between the new minimum wage and what each employee was paid previously. The percentage allowed each proceeding year will decrease before it sunsets in 2026. Businesses can begin to claim the credit on their quarterly Illinois Withholding Income Tax Returns.
While this is not a long-term solution for small businesses, it will provide a measure of relief to employers as they face the hardships imposed by the minimum wage increase. More information on the Minimum Wage Credit is available at https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/research/taxinformation/WithholdingIncomeTax/Documents/FS-13.pdf#search=Minimum%20Wage%20Credit
In February, I sponsored legislation to regionalize the minimum wage. My Senate Bill 3396 would provide for minimum wages based upon a percentage of the otherwise required minimum wage, depending upon the region of the State. The legislation establishes six regions for purposes of determining the minimum wage.
Senate Bill 3396 would allow specified units of local government to opt-out of the state-mandated minimum wage rates and opt-into a regionally adjusted minimum wage, which will be statutorily-authorized and statutorily-approved. It would provide a sliding scale type of rate – so areas with historically-low unemployment or higher costs of living would keep rates closer to the state-mandated hourly rate.
Co-sponsored by 17 Republican Senators, Senate Bill 3396 was not allowed a public hearing by Senate leaders in legislative committee or on the Senate Floor.
Spring Turkey season permits
 The Department of Natural Resources is reminding Illinois turkey hunters of application guidelines for Spring Turkey season permits.
Second Lottery: December 2, 2020 – January 11, 2021
All hunters are eligible to apply for one permit; hunters who have not already been awarded a permit will receive preference.
Group Hunt applications are accepted in the Second Lottery (up to 6 individuals may apply to hunt as a group).
Landowner Spring Turkey permit applicants/recipients may apply in Second Lottery.
Third Lottery: January 12, 2021 – February 9, 2021
All hunters are eligible to apply. Hunters may apply for up to 3 permits during this period, except no one may exceed the 3-permit limit in total for Spring Turkey hunting, which includes lottery-drawn, youth, landowner, and OTC permits.
Group Hunts are NOT allowed in the Third Lottery.
Landowner Spring Turkey permit applicants/recipients may apply in Third Lottery.
Over-the-Counter Permit Sales
County-specific Spring Turkey permits remaining after the Third Lottery Drawing will be available for sale over the counter from License Vendors beginning March 9, 2021.
Permits will be sold until quotas are exhausted, or until the close of season May 13, 2021. Persons may purchase one or more permits during this period, subject to availability, except that no one may exceed the limit of 3 permits in total, including lottery-drawn, youth, landowner, and OTC permits.
More information is available at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/hunting/Pages/Spring-Turkey-Program.aspx
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