New Illinois laws in effect July 1, 2026

Several new laws are set to take effect in Illinois beginning July 1, marking the start of the state's new fiscal year. 

Trump reacts to Supreme Court birthright citizenship ruling
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After the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump cannot end birthright citizenship through an executive order, Trump called on Congress to pursue legislative action, though legal experts say changing the policy could require a constitutional amendment.

Birthright citizenship ruling, combatting Chicago crime | The Chicago Report
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The Supreme Court made two significant rulings on Tuesday, sparking lots of reaction. And, a nonprofit group in Chicago is stepping up to help combat crime on CTA trains during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. All this and more on "The Chicago Report." 

'Violence Interrupters' to patrol CTA trains for July 4th | The Chicago Report
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Two recent robberies on the CTA Blue Line and a shooting that killed a CTA worker has led to renewed safety concerns. The nonprofit group 'Violence Interrupters' launched their own patrols on the Blue Line to hand out safety tips and protect riders.

Iran talks resume in Qatar: what's next? | The Chicago Report
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The U.S. continues peace talks with Iran, using Qatar as the mediator but it's not clear if any progress is being made. President Trump is downplaying the possibility of a major breakthrough as a new round of peace talks get underway. Leslie Vinjamuri, the president and CEO of the Chicago Council of Global Affairs, is weighing in on the latest. 

ACLU of Illinois reacts to Supreme Court decisions | The Chicago Report
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Two major decisions from the Supreme Court today on the final day of term. Here to weigh in on the birthright citizenship decision is the ACLU of Illinois. 

ACLU of Illinois responds as Supreme Court upholds transgender athlete bans
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We're talking more about the Supreme Court's decision today, upholding the state bans on transgender athletes from participating in school sports. Joining us is Ed Yohnka, the director of communications and public policy with the ACLU of Illinois. 

Chicago immigrant groups celebrate Supreme Court birthright citizenship ruling
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Local reaction to the SCOTUS decision is pouring in. More than 30 Chicago immigrant rights organizations gathered Tuesday afternoon to celebrate SCOTUS' birthright citizenship ruling. 

Supreme Court rulings draw mixed reactions
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The Supreme Court released decisions in several high-profile cases early Tuesday. The rulings quickly sparked mixed reactions from the pubic and politicians across the country.

Pritzker to make Illinois first state to require coverage for preeclampsia testing | ChicagoLIVE
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Preeclampsia is a leading cause of death in pregnancy, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is now requiring insurance to cover preeclampsia testing. Kara Boeldt, founder of End Preeclampsia, joins ChicagoLIVE to explain why its so important.

Deep dive into Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship, transgender athletes and more
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The Supreme Court delivered rulings on three major cases before beginning its summer recess, addressing birthright citizenship, transgender athletes in girls’ sports, and how much political parties can spend in elections.

Research suggests Illinois could save millions by cutting some women's prison sentences
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New research suggests Illinois could save millions by shortening prison sentences for some women with little impact on violent crime. Colette Payne and Deanne Benos of the Women's Justice Institute discuss what these findings could mean for the criminal justice system.

Cook County assault weapon ban: Supreme Court to hear challenge

The Supreme Court will hear a major Second Amendment case that could determine the future of Cook County's assault weapon ban.

Illinois' new e-bike, scooter rules: What to expect
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New rules for e-bikes and e-scooters are coming to Illinois. Rob Cohen, an attorney with Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, explains what the changes mean and how they'll build on existing bicycle laws.

Birthright citizenship: Supreme Court rejects Trump crackdown

The Supreme Court has ruled President Trump’s crackdown on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, rejecting his executive order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.

New Illinois law expands protections against AI-powered cyberbullying
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State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr explains how a new Illinois law broadens the definition of cyberbullying to include AI-generated content and outlines what it means for students, parents and schools.

Arkansas to move forward with SNAP candy, soda ban despite court order, governor says

Arkansas' ban on using SNAP benefits for some sugary items will go forward this week, despite federal judge's ruling against five other states' similar programs, governor says.

New renter ordinance, Bears stadium search expands | The Chicago Report
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a new renter's ordinance and what it may entail for landlords. And, the Bears are looking at a second possible stadium location in Hammond. We break it all down on this episode of "The Chicago Report."