The start of July in Illinois heralds more than barbecues and fireworks; it brings a suite of new laws affecting residents across the state. From driver's license eligibility changes for immigrants to gas and sports wagering tax hikes, the Prairie State is seeing its fair share of adjustments.
As of July 1, non-U.S. citizens in Illinois are embarking on a new possibility—to obtain a standard driver’s license, a move long advocated for by those who seek to mitigate the stigmatization of immigrants in interactions with law enforcement and broader access to consumer services. This progressive piece of legislation places Illinois with peers like California and New York, states that have previously charted these waters. "It’s critically important and it comes down to safer roads, safer roads, safer roads," said Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias in a statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
However, hitting the road gets pricier. Another product of legislative changes is a gas tax increase. Motorists will shell out two extra cents per gallon of gasoline, totaling 47 cents—a rise rooted in the state’s effort to back the ambitious Rebuild Illinois construction program, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. The hike represents the state’s second-highest gas tax, pinching pockets but paving paths, and will arguably cost drivers $184 more annually than what they would have paid back in 2019.
It isn't just drivers facing new financial landscapes. Minimum wage earners in Chicago and Cook County witness their pay ascend to $16.20 per hour, reflecting a commitment to wage growth against an evolving economic backdrop. The increment comes alongside modified Paid Time Off laws in Chicago, promising workers up to five days of paid leave and five days of paid sick leave if they clock in at least 80 hours for a 120-day period. Simultaneously, the stakes are getting higher for sports bettors with a spike in the tax on sports wagering transitioning from a 15% flat tax to a progressive rate, which could peak at 35%.
Despite these financial burdens, advocates heralding the driver's license law view it as a triumphant stride toward fairness. "We wanted to make sure that this time around we could eliminate that discrimination," state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, a main sponsor of the measure, told the Chicago Tribune. The licenses are projected to provide noncitizens with the dignity of recognition and anonymity from the scouring eyes of immigration enforcement unless underpinned by court-issued documents.
