1. New laws for 2014
you don’t want to miss

4. Starting in 2014, drivers caught holding cell phones up to their
ears could be subject to a $75 fine. Using a Blue Tooth headset
or speakerphone are both still acceptable as long as they can
be activated by a voice command or single-button touch.
Read more.
House Bill 1247

5. Recognizing that some conditions respond better to therapeutic
qualities of cannabis than traditional medication, the General
Assembly passed legislation allowing patients suffering from certain
specific conditions to use medical marijuana with their doctors’
permission. The Illinois Department of Public Health is in charge of
setting up the system. Learn more.
House Bill 1

6. Under previous Illinois law, young people were allowed to tan
with their parents’ permission. However, study after study has
demonstrated that tanning – particularly during your formative
years – greatly increases the risk of cancer. The new law prohibits
all commercial tanning facilities from allowing people younger
than 18 to tan unless they have a doctor’s prescription.
Underage tanning in private homes is still allowed.
House Bill 188

7. The idea is that if you’re going to be able to vote in the General
Election, you should be able to help select the candidates you
will be voting for. For example, if you will be 18 in November of
2014, you can vote in the March primary in addition to the
General Election.
House Bill 226

8. Some restrictions apply. Read more here.
Senate Bill 1639

9. House Bill 3081 and House Bill 3243

10. And, you no longer have to fear eavesdropping lawsuits
from your little angels if you read their text messages.
House Bill 64 and House Bill 3038

11. Counties in Chicagoland and suburban St. Louis have the
ability to opt out.
Senate Bill 2356

12. Now there are higher penalties for speeding by workers and
lower penalties when the worksite is empty.
House Bill 1814

13. Senate Bill 923

14. However, schools still have the ability to opt out of sex ed all
together, and parents can take their kids out of the classes if
they find the content objectionable. Read more here.
House Bill 2675

15. House Bill 2992

16. The winery can cork it and send it home with you. Illinois
already has a similar law for restaurants. The wine must be
re-corked and placed in a tamper-evident bag.
Senate Bill 722

17. The Illinois Tollway will be allowed to post names of people
with the highest outstanding tolls on its website, much like a
Most-Wanted list.
Senate Bill 1214

18. Read a complete list of
all new laws taking effect on
January 1.
Illinoissenatedemocrats.com