Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, right, talks about the merits of the Paid Leave For All Workers Act before signing it into law, March 13, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Hundreds of new laws will go into effect in Illinois this year, with some addressing major issues like minimum wage, paid leave and book bans.

Starting on Monday, Illinois’ minimum wage increased to $14 for non-tipped workers and $8.40 for tipped workers. With the increase, Illinois continues to lead all Midwestern states in minimum wage rates.

Last October, the Chicago City Council also approved a five-year plan to phase out the gap between tipped and non-tipped wages. On July 1, the tipped minimum wage in Chicago will increase to 68% of the regular minimum wage as opposed to 60%, with incremental increases planned annually until 2028 (Chicago’s 2024 non-tipped minimum has not yet been established.)

Most Illinois workers are also now able to earn up to 40 hours (or five days) of paid time off per year under the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Pritzker also signed two laws expanding bereavement leave rights for parents who have lost a child to suicide and for anyone who has lost a family member to a violent crime.

Illinois also became the first state in the U.S. to financially penalize any public libraries that ban books when Pritzker signed House Bill 2789 last June.

Pritzker also made headlines in 2023 when he signed a sweeping assault weapons regulation bill into law, which manages the sale and distribution of assault weapons and high-velocity ammunition magazines.

The Illinois Municipal League distributed the full list of the 320 new Illinois laws last month.