2026 Articles

The General Assembly amended the Workplace Transparency Act to further limit employment contract provisions that restrict employees from reporting unlawful workplace conduct. 

The Office of the Treasurer adopted amendments to the Part titled Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. These amendments require “finders” to be licensed by the office and to charge client fees of less than 10 percent of the collected amount. License applicants must be of good moral character, demonstrate understanding of the Act, pay a $500 initial licensing fee, and pay a $250 renewal fee every three years.

The General Assembly amended the Illinois Vehicle Code to revise driver’s license renewal, examination, and medical reporting provisions. 

On April 7, 2026, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a trial court improperly detained a defendant pending a violation-of-probation hearing where the alleged violation was based solely on a new retail theft charge that was not detainable under the Pretrial Fairness Act.

On March 2, 2026, the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a prior grant of an emergency civil no-contact order is sufficient to make a prima facie showing that a sexual offense was committed in support of a motion to have a civil no-contact petition heard in criminal court under section 112A of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

On Dec. 9, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a prior theft conviction is admissible to impeach the plaintiff’s credibility.

The Department of Innovation and Technology set out clearer steps for submitting, reviewing, and deciding grievances regarding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) grievance procedures.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) adopted a new Part titled Quantum Computing Campus Program. Under the program, DCEO may designate quantum computing campuses in Illinois for entities engaged in quantum computing research, development, operations, manufacturing, data-center activity, and other related activities that support the practical application of quantum computing.

The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation adopted amendments to the Part titled Consumer Legal Funding Act concerning refinancing and pro rata fees.

On Jan. 7, 2026, the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that res judicata generally does not bar timely-filed claims in one lawsuit merely because similar claims in a later lawsuit were dismissed with prejudice as untimely.

The General Assembly enacted the Self-Administered Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Ban Act, which prohibits the sale, marketing, promotion, advertisement, or other distribution of self-administered sexual assault evidence collection kits.

On March 26, 2026, the Second District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that the state may not make the same recording punishable twice on two different theories under section 11-20.1(a) of the Criminal Code of 2012.

On Dec. 4, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court held that a 30-day imprisonment sanction is not a sentence under the County Jail Good Behavior Allowance Act and therefore does not entitle defendants to good-conduct credit.

The Illinois General Assembly amended the School Code’s bullying prevention provisions to address digitally created or altered images.

The General Assembly amended the School Code to prohibit schools and law enforcement from issuing monetary fines, fees, tickets, or citations to students for municipal code violations committed on school grounds during school hours or while taking school transportation. 

The General Assembly amended the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to require the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to develop clear, definitive guidelines for developing threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans.

On Feb. 27, 2026, the Second District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that the removal and search of a wallet after a pat-down exceeded the scope of a permissible search where the defendant was not armed and dangerous and a pat-down was justified only for the search of weapons.

On Dec. 18, 2025, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a weapon conviction based on a prior juvenile adjudication did not violate the Second Amendment.

The Illinois Secretary of State adopted amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Parking Program to clarify application requirements for disability plates and for parking placards or devices.