New Illinois Laws Taking Effect in 2026

Hundreds of new laws will go into effect in Illinois in 2026, addressing issues from gun ownership to crime reporting and public safety.

A meaningful piece of legislation focuses on the safe storage of guns. A 2018 Johns Hopkins University study revealed that over half of American gun owners don’t store their weapons securely.

That study, combined with statistics on school shootings and how assailants obtain weapons, led to the passage of SB 0008. This law requires gun owners to lock up firearms if a minor is present, or if someone in the home is legally prohibited from possessing them.

Violating this law could result in civil liability, and any fines collected will go to the state’s Mental Health Fund.

Other new laws aim to support victims of sexual assault and human trafficking. SB 2323 establishes a statewide response system for human-trafficking survivors.Meanwhile, HB 2602 eliminates the statute of limitations for certain sexual assault cases.