# Illinois legislative reforms under Gov. Pritzker > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/illinois-legislative-reforms-under-governor-pritzker > Updated: 2026-08-04T16:18:36.000Z. Sources: 50. Developments: 14. June 2026 saw Gov. J.B. Pritzker sign the Digital Asset Privilege Tax Act, a 0.2 % levy on crypto‑exchange, transfer and custody services earning ≥$100 k, projected to raise $60 million annually, and the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act, which bars out‑of‑state sharing of abortion‑related and gender‑dysphoria data without patient consent. Consumer‑protection measures followed, including the Buy‑Now‑Pay‑Later Loan Consumer Protection Act (registration, cost disclosure, ability‑to‑repay checks) and the Junk Fee Ban Act (prohibiting price ads that omit mandatory fees). In early July, HB 3564 capped tenant‑application fees at $50 and required lease fees on the first page, while SB 315 imposed AI‑firm transparency, 72‑hour incident reporting and annual third‑party safety audits for companies with revenue over $500 million, with penalties up to $3 million. A July 14 package added minors’ access to birth‑control pills, banned eleven cosmetic chemicals, and expanded low‑income energy assistance with tiered discounts of 5 %‑84 % for qualifying households. Utility‑cost reforms (HB 4456, HB 5524) broadened discount programs and mandated clearer billing; the POWER Act on data‑center energy remained pending. August legislation included a statewide school‑cellphone ban (SB 2427) and insurance‑rate‑hike controls requiring 60‑day notice for premium increases over 10 % and giving regulators authority to block excessive hikes, effective July 1 2027. On 4 August, Pritzker signed additional bills: a cash‑acceptance law obligating most retailers to take cash for in‑person purchases under $500 (with exemptions for self‑checkout, overnight sales, out‑of‑cash situations, membership‑only venues and online sales) and imposing fines for violations; a jury‑duty pay law mandating full regular wages for employees serving on juries, except firms with ≤25 workers; a requirement for schools to provide both male and female CPR training mannequins; and a mandate for higher‑education institutions to report annually on faculty‑taught credit hours beginning in 2028. ## Claims - The law requires all Illinois public school districts to adopt bell‑to‑bell bans on personal electronic devices by the start of the 2027‑2028 school year. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The ban excludes devices issued by schools for educational purposes and allows exceptions for medical reasons, special‑education needs, language translation, and caregiver students. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Schools may not use fines, fees, suspensions or expulsions to enforce the ban unless the student's conduct would already merit discipline. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2427 into law on July 28, 2024. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Senator Cristina Castro was the lead Senate sponsor of the bill. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The legislation does not provide state funding to support implementation of the ban. (corroborated by 2 sources) - State Rep. Matt Hanson co‑sponsored the legislation. (single source) - Governor Pritzker said the ban aims to reduce student distraction, cyberbullying and improve learning. (single source) - U‑46 School District awarded a $172,750 contract for 6,625 phone‑lock bags after implementing its own ban. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs bills to curb insurance rate hikes Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation giving regulators power to review and limit auto and home insurance rate hikes, requiring advance notice and allowing consumer challenges. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-signs-bills-to-curb-insurance-rate-hikes ### 2026-08-04: Illinois Governor Pritzker signs cash‑acceptance and jury‑duty pay bills Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed bills requiring most retailers to accept cash for purchases under $500 and obligating employers to pay full wages during jury duty, with several exemptions and related reforms 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-pritzker-signs-cashacceptance-and-juryduty-pay-bills ### 2026-08-01: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs statewide school cellphone ban Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a law requiring all public schools to ban personal wireless devices from 2027‑28, with limited exceptions and new enforcement rules. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-signs-statewide-school-cellphone-ban ### 2026-07-30: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs children's social media safety law Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Children’s Online Social Media Safety Act, requiring age verification, banning algorithmic feeds for minors, limiting night‑time notifications, and demanding parental cons 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-signs-childrens-social-media-safety-law ### 2026-07-28: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs statewide school cellphone ban Governor JB Pritzker signed a law requiring a bell‑to‑bell cellphone ban in all Illinois public schools by 2027‑28, with limited exceptions and no state funding for enforcement. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-pritzker-signs-statewide-school-cellphone-ban ### 2026-07-21: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs utility bill reforms to lower rates and expand discounts Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed two bills to lower utility costs, offer tiered discounts up to 84% for low‑income households, and demand clearer billing; he also discussed pending data‑center regulations under 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-signs-utility-bill-reforms-to-lower-rates-and-expand-discounts ### 2026-07-14: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signs suite of bills on health, consumer safety and low‑income energy aid Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed dozens of new laws, including minors' access to birth control, a ban on harmful cosmetics, property‑tax surplus rules, and expanded low‑income energy discounts. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-signs-suite-of-bills-on-health-consumer-safety-and-lowincome-energy-aid ### 2026-07-08: Illinois Enacts AI Safety Measures Act Requiring Audits and Transparency Illinois signed the AI Safety Measures Act, requiring large AI firms to undergo yearly audits, report serious incidents, and face fines up to $3 million, targeting catastrophic risks and taking effect Jan 2028. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-enacts-ai-safety-measures-act-requiring-audits-and-transparency ### 2026-07-05: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs tenant protections and AI safety laws Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a tenant‑fee protection law effective Jan. 1 and an AI safety act requiring disclosures and audits for large AI firms, with implementation slated for 2028. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-signs-tenant-protections-and-ai-safety-laws ### 2026-06-25: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signs consumer‑protection laws on BNPL services and hidden fees Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois laws requiring BNPL providers to register and disclose costs, and banning hidden fees in advertised prices to protect families. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-signs-consumerprotection-laws-on-bnpl-services-and-hidden-fees ### 2026-06-24: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signs law shielding abortion patients' medical records Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act, preventing out‑of‑state sharing of abortion‑related medical data and protecting thousands of out‑of‑state patients. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-gov-jb-pritzker-signs-law-shielding-abortion-patients-medical-records ### 2026-06-17: Illinois Imposes 0.2% Crypto Transaction Tax, Industry Reacts Illinois governor signed a 0.2% tax on crypto service providers, expected to raise $60 M annually; industry groups label it the most punitive U.S. crypto tax and warn of legal challenges and business exits. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-signs-crypto-tax-and-socialmedia-safety-bills ### 2026-06-07: Illinois Governor Pritzker Signs Expanded Labor, Wrongful‑Conviction and Immigration Bills Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed bills expanding prevailing‑wage protections and penalties, while the legislature passed measures raising exoneree compensation, limiting new immigration detention sites, curb‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-governor-pritzker-signs-expanded-labor-wrongfulconviction-and-immigration-bills ### 2026-05-28: Illinois passes insurance rate controls and consumer‑fee crackdown bills Illinois Gov. Pritzker plans to sign bills giving the state insurance department power to regulate auto and homeowners premiums, while Rep. Chung moves ahead consumer‑fee and utility disclosure measures, all to 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/illinois-passes-insurance-rate-controls-and-consumerfee-crackdown-bills --- Cite as: Illinois legislative reforms under Gov. Pritzker. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/illinois-legislative-reforms-under-governor-pritzker