Over 300 new laws take effect in Illinois this year, and you can bet some of these will end up on Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2028 stump speech.
Most notably:
Ban on Banning Books: This is the first law in the nation, signed by Pritzker to much media fanfare last year, that forbids state-funded libraries from banning materials due to partisan or religious disapproval.
Pritzker has the early head start now for Democrats on the newest (for now) culture war.
Last year, Pritzker previewed his messaging when he said:
“Here in Illinois, we don’t hide from the truth, we embrace it…. In Illinois, we are showing the nation what it really looks like to stand up for liberty.”
He also warned: “Regimes ban books, not democracies.”
Minimum wage increase. Juiced up to $14/hr for non-tipped workers and $8.40 for non-tipped.
Paid Leave for All Workers Act. The gist – most state employers now have to offer 40 hours of paid time off to their employees for any reason, and workers can request the time off with just 7 days notice.
Fentanyl Education: High schools have to start teaching about fentanyl’s dangers in all state-required health courses.
Fentanyl, as a political issue, has become the domain of the GOP, which always couples its warnings of the drug with its illegal immigration messaging.
So Democrats are a bit vulnerable, and need to somehow communicate they understand to reconnect with the working class roots of the party.