Governor Pritzker Signs 124 Laws Impacting Chicago Public Safety, Transportation, Mental Health, and Environment

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has enacted a comprehensive package of 124 new laws that influence various sectors across the state, including public safety pensions, transportation safety, mental health practices, environmental policies, and more. One significant change, effective immediately, involves modifications to pension benefits for Chicago police and firefighters hired after 2011, as outlined in House Bill 3657. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed concerns about the financial sustainability of these pension obligations, citing an upcoming billion-dollar budget deficit for the next fiscal year. Transportation safety will also see enhancements, with Senate Bill 191 mandating that all newly purchased school buses from July 2031 onward be equipped with lap and shoulder seat belts. In mental health, House Bill 1806 restricts licensed professionals from relying on artificial intelligence to make independent therapeutic decisions, prompting discussions about the impact on access to care. Neil Parikh of Slingshot AI criticized the legislation, warning it could hinder innovative treatment options for Illinois residents. Additional laws increase transparency and address envi...