Article Summary

Several new public safety laws will take effect Jan. 1.

One new law requires gun owners to store their firearms in a locked and secure location when children are present or face big fines.

A law honoring Sonya Massey will take effect requiring police departments to do more in-depth background checks for new hires after Capitol News Illinois reporting raised questions about Sangamon County’s hiring process.

Other new laws remove the statute of limitations for cases of human trafficking of a minor and allow first-time gun offenders to obtain a Firearm Owner Identification card.

This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.

Gun owners in Illinois must take new steps in 2026 to secure their firearms in their homes, particularly when child

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