New Illinois Laws for 2026: What Residents Need to Know About Guns, Taxes, Squatters and More

Illinois is kicking off 2026 with nearly 300 new state laws, but a handful of hot‑button changes stand out because they directly affect gun owners, homeowners, renters, shoppers, and families in every corner of the state. If you live in Illinois or own property here, understanding these new gun, tax, squatter, and immigration‑related laws can help you avoid fines, protect your rights, and plan ahead for the year.

1. Safe Gun Storage Act: New Rules for Illinois Gun Owners

Gun safety is one of the biggest and most controversial changes in Illinois law for 2026, especially for residents who keep firearms at home. The Safe Gun Storage Act (SB8) creates strict new storage rules and raises the stakes for failing to secure your guns.

Gun owners must store firearms in a locked container or with a locking device so that they are inaccessible or unusable by anyone other than the lawful owner or authorized user.
The law specifically targets situations where minors, people who are prohibited from owning guns, or people at risk of harming themselves or others could gain access to an unsecured firearm.
Violating the Safe Gun Storage Act can lead to fines of up to 10,000 dollars, especially if someone is injured or killed after accessing an improperly stored weapon.
Lost or stolen firearms must now be reported to law enforcement within 48 hours of discovering the gun is missing, down from the previous 72‑hour requirement.

For Illinois gun owners, the takeaway is simple: lock up your firearms in a safe, lockbox, or other secure container and treat prompt reporting of missing guns as a legal requirement, not an option.

2. Grocery Tax Repeal: Will Your Food Actually Cost Less?

Taxes on everyday essentials are always a hot topic, and the 2026 changes to Illinois’ grocery tax are getting a lot of attention. On paper, the state is eliminating its 1% grocery sales tax—but what happens at the register depends heavily on where you live.

Effective January 1, 2026, Illinois is repealing the statewide 1% sales and use tax on qualifying grocery food for human consumption.
At the same time, counties and municipalities are allowed to impose a local 1% grocery tax by ordinance, and more than half of Illinois cities and towns have already done so.
Local governments that filed their ordinance by October 1, 2025 can start collecting a local grocery tax on January 1, 2026, with others able to join later in the year.
The exemption does not apply to alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, candy, prepared foods meant for immediate consumption, or cannabis‑infused products, which remain taxable at higher rates.

In practical terms, many Illinois residents will still see a 1% tax on groceries—just labeled as local instead of state—so it is worth checking whether your city or county adopted its own grocery tax.

3. “Stop Squatters” and the New Anti‑Squatter Law

Stories about squatters taking over homes have gone viral, and Illinois lawmakers responded with a 2026 law that makes it much easier for property owners to remove unlawful occupants. This “anti‑squatter” legislation closes a long‑criticized loophole that used to treat squatters like traditional tenants.

Senate Bill 1563—often called the “Squatter Bill” or “Stop Squatters Act”—takes effect January 1, 2026 and clearly distinguishes lawful tenants from unlawful squatters.
Under the new law, civil eviction procedures no longer prevent police from treating squatters as criminal trespassers under the Illinois Criminal Code.
Once the property owner notifies law enforcement and proves ownership and control of the property, police can remove squatters without forcing the owner to go through a months‑long civil eviction process.
Squatters can face criminal trespass charges (a misdemeanor) and may also be held liable for money damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees resulting from their trespass.

For homeowners, landlords, and even banks holding foreclosed properties, the new squatter law is a major shift that restores the ability to use law enforcement, instead of relying only on slow civil courts.

4. Immigration Status and School Rights

Another politically charged area of Illinois law for 2026 involves immigration status and access to public education. New rules clarify that children in Illinois have a right to attend school regardless of their or their parents’ immigration status and tighten privacy around that information.

Public schools cannot deny enrollment, participation in programs, or access to school services based on a student’s or their family’s immigration or citizenship status.
School staff are restricted in when they may ask about, collect, or disclose immigration status information, and they generally cannot share it with immigration enforcement or other agencies except when required by federal law.
The law is designed to reduce fear among mixed‑status families so that children still attend school, receive services, and participate fully in activities without the threat of immigration‑related retaliation.

For Illinois parents and students, this means schools should feel safer and more accessible, and districts must update their policies and staff training to comply with the new privacy expectations.

5. Other High‑Impact Changes for Everyday Residents

Beyond the headline‑grabbing debates over guns, taxes, and squatters, several other 2026 laws will touch the daily lives of Illinois residents in more subtle—but important—ways. These changes focus on safety, health, and personal rights in a digital world.

Opioid overdose and naloxone access: Libraries and some other public entities must keep opioid‑overdose medication (like naloxone) on site and train staff to recognize overdoses and respond, expanding life‑saving coverage in communities.
Online child exploitation and policing: The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation is given wider statewide authority to pursue online child exploitation cases, closing jurisdiction gaps that slowed investigations in the past.
Worker and victim protections: Employees are protected from retaliation if they use an employer‑issued phone, tablet, or computer to record domestic violence, sexual assault, gender‑based violence, or other violent crimes against themselves or a family member.
Digital likeness and AI: New laws restrict misuse of people’s digital replicas and likenesses, especially in AI‑generated content, giving Illinois residents more control over how their image is used commercially or in deceptive media.

Together, these laws show a broader trend: Illinois is trying to modernize its rules around technology, public health, and personal safety at the same time it addresses hot‑button debates about guns, taxes, immigration, and property rights.

What are the new 2026 Illinois Laws?