Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs tenant protections and AI safety laws

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a new statewide tenant‑protection law that bans undisclosed “junk” fees, caps application fees at $50, and prohibits many additional charges such as after‑hours maintenance fees. The legislation, House Bill 3564, requires all fees to be listed on the first page of a lease and takes effect on Jan. 1. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a complementary city ordinance aimed at further safeguarding renters.

The governor also signed the Artificial Intelligence Safety Measures Act, creating a regulatory framework for frontier AI companies. The law mandates public disclosures of safety practices, reporting of significant incidents, and, uniquely, regular independent safety audits for AI firms with revenue over $500 million. Whistleblower protections are included. The provisions will become operative on Jan. 1, 2028, and have received backing from major AI developers such as OpenAI and Anthropic.