2026 Articles

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.

The Office of the Treasurer adopted amendments to the Part titled Secure Choice Savings Program. The rulemaking subjects employers to penalties for failing to remit employee contributions in a timely manner. 

The Department of Revenue adopted amendments to the Part titled Income Tax, expanding the regulatory framework applicable to entities engaged in small consumer lending.

On June 11, 2026, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court found specific personal jurisdiction over two nonresidents because one sought Illinois court approval concerning trust administration, and the other made electronic payments in Illinois on the judgment debtor’s behalf.

The State Employees’ Retirement System adopted amendments to the Part titled The Administration and Operation of the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) of Illinois. 

On June 10, 2026, the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that section 110-6(f) limits a jail sanction to 30 days regardless of the number of pretrial-release violations alleged in the state’s petition.

The Illinois General Assembly amended the Illinois Explosives Act regarding licensing, enforcement, storage, and transportation requirements for explosives. The Act updates statutory definitions for explosives, explosive materials, magazine keepers, water gel, and consumer fireworks. 

The General Assembly enacted the Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents Act, which provides that parents involved with the Illinois child welfare system are guaranteed certain rights. 

On Nov. 26, 2025, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that granting summary judgment in favor of the defendant was proper in a wrongful-death suit because the plaintiff failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact that would support an allegation of willful and wanton misconduct by the ambulance crew.

On Dec. 19, 2025, the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that repeated safety complaints are sufficient to state a claim for retaliatory discharge.

On Dec. 15, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that parental rights may be terminated where unfitness is proven by clear and convincing evidence, the parent did not make reasonable progress in the reunification plan, and termination is in the child’s best interest.

On Dec. 31, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a finding of parental unfitness was not against the manifest weight of the evidence when the father failed to maintain a reasonable degree of responsibility for his children’s welfare.

On Dec. 15, 2025, the Second District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that an indictment alleging theft of “United States currency” was not fatally defective where the evidence showed the defendant unlawfully obtained wages through electronic direct deposits.

The Illinois Secretary of State amended the Part titled Certificates of Title, Registration of Vehicles to add a formal transfer-on-death beneficiary process for Illinois vehicle titles. 

On March 2, 2026, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a trial court may not sua sponte vacate its order granting a defendant leave to file a successive postconviction petition after ruling on the state’s motion to dismiss and conducting a full evidentiary hearing.