New year brings new laws, including insulin price limit, while minimum wage goes up another dollar

One of the side effects of the coronavirus pandemic was a drastically shortened spring session of the General Assembly, which means far fewer laws taking effect on New Year’s Day than in a typical year.

Only about a half-dozen new state laws and policies take effect Jan. 1. A year earlier, more than 250 new laws took effect, including the landmark legalization of recreational marijuana.

Nonetheless, some of the new laws will have a significant effect on people’s lives. Here’s a look at what’s new as of Friday.

Minimum wage increase

Low-wage workers across Illinois are getting their third raise in 12 months, with the minimum wage increasing by $1, to $11 per hour, following a $1 increase on Jan. 1, 2020, and a 75 cent raise on July 1.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-2021-illinois-new-laws-20201230-vsy4geh6tvcsfmf2yfl52ep2zi-story.html