Starting January 1, 2025, Illinois saw the implementation of new public health laws aimed at improving safety and health standards. Notable changes include stricter lead testing in children, enhanced care plans in nursing homes during ownership transitions, and compulsory construction approvals for assisted living facilities. These initiatives, supported by state legislation, seek to heighten health interventions and safeguard community wellbeing.
“The Illinois Department of Public Health is excited to see new laws and rules go into effect this New Year to improve the health of Illinois’s public,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “We appreciate the leadership of Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois General Assembly and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) in advancing solutions that protect our residents and make our Illinois communities healthier.”
Other key laws taking effect in the New Year include:
• SB 3115, sponsored by Sen. Julie Morrison and Rep. Anna Moeller. Requires that when a nursing home undergoes a change of ownership, the new owner and prior owner must work together to develop and submit a plan of care for residents.
• HB 5429, sponsored by Rep. Camille Lilly and Sen. Laura Fine. Requires assisted living facilities to submit plans for construction or major renovations for approval by IDPH prior to commencing construction.
• HB 3521, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Sen. Karina Villa. Provides that the reporting requirements that apply to hospitals for cases of patient abuse by staff also apply to clinics or other health care providers affiliated with hospitals.
• HB 4667, sponsored by Rep. Anna Moeller and Sen. Cristina Castro. Imposes new inspection requirements for mobile home parks and changes the fees for licensing mobile home parks.
• SB 2662, sponsored by Sen. Julie Morrison and Rep. Camille Lilly. Prohibits advertising or promoting electronic cigarettes that are designed to fool parents, guardians, teachers, or others into believing that the device is not a tobacco product.
• SB 3350, sponsored by Sen. Laura Ellman and Rep. Tony McCombie. Expands availability and distribution of free fentanyl test strips to help people detect the presence of the dangerous opioid before consuming substances.
