Walker Calls Attention to New Laws Now in Effect

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, is reminding residents of important new laws that became effective on Jan. 1, 2020.

“This past session we passed over 250 bills that are now in effect,” Walker said. “Some are more publically known, such as legalizing adult-use cannabis and raising the minimum wage. Others, like stronger maternal care protections and making it easier for veterans and their spouses to transfer their employment licenses, are lesser known but just as important.”

Walker is calling attention to new traffic fines and rules aimed at keeping everyone safe. The fines for illegally passing a school bus have doubled from $150 to $300 for the first violation. If drivers do not obey Scott’s Law by slowing down, changing lanes, and proceeding with caution when approaching disabled or emergency vehicles, they could be stuck with an increased maximum fine of $10,000. The increase comes in response to multiple fatalities involving Illinois State Police troopers pulled over on highways in 2019.

Additional reforms include removing the statute of limitations on sexual assault to mandating insurance companies cover EpiPens for minors and creating a higher education savings program. Walker sponsored and supported many of the new laws, including legislation requiring coverage of breast cancer screening, and increasing the burial benefits for our first responders killed in the line of duty.

“After four years of gridlock and dysfunction, I’m glad Springfield is finally back to work improving our state,” Walker said. “I’m particularly proud of the work I’ve done helping to grow small business like establishing a better apprenticeship and career and technical education pathway for skilled workers, which is now law. We’re truly starting to build a stronger Illinois and I look forward to building on that momentum when we go back to Springfield later this month.”