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Nearly 300 new Illinois laws take effect in 2022.(Source: Gray TV)
By Mike Miletich
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGEM) – From minor changes to major reforms, 286 new laws will take effect Saturday in Illinois.
Illinois will become the first state in the country to require the teaching of a unit of Asian-American history in public schools. Another law requires schools to incorporate contributions of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhists into American history curriculum.
School leaders will also be banned from discriminating against students based on their hairstyle. Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) championed the bill this year as a Black man who proudly sports his hair in free-form dreadlocks. His legislation honors Jett Hawkins, a 4-year-old boy who faced the dilemma with his elementary school when they said his braids violated the school dress code.
Illinois State Police will combine FOID and concealed carry licenses into one digital card. Gun owners will also have the opportunity to have their cards automatically renewed if they provide fingerprints. The law requires state police to remove guns from people with revoked FOIDs who never gave up their weapons. It also creates a stolen gun database to prevent more violence and crime.
You can see a full list of the 2022 new laws by clicking here.
