New Laws Go Into Effect Today

(Undated) — A handful of new laws go into effect today statewide. The state’s gas tax is going up a penny to just over 48 cents per gallon. That makes Illinois the second-highest gas tax rate in the country, second only to California. The city of Chicago’s minimum wage for employers with four or more employees increases to $16.60 per hour. There will also be tax increases on Airbnb rentals, sports wagers, and tobacco. Also, hotels in Illinois with 50 or more rooms are now banned from providing small single-use plastic bottles with products like shampoo or body wash.