A few new laws going into effect in Illinois in 2026 will impact law enforcement agencies, but two local departments are ready for the updated statutes as they've been putting them into practice before even signed into law.
Under HB 1302, procedures are bolstered and rights expanded for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Under the bill, law enforcement officers cannot discourage or try to stop a victim from filing a police report about abuse, sexual assault, sexual abuse, neglect or exploitation. It also clarifies victims’ rights to receive timely notice of court hearings, requiring that victims get at least seven days’ notice before most court proceedings.
Todd Tedrow, interim chief of the Macomb Police Department (MPD), noted that his local agency complies and exceeds all sexual assault and trauma information training mandates for both officers and detectives.
'All complaints are taken seriously, reports generated and investigated,' he added. 'We will not have to make any alterations in our current procedures as MPD ensures reports are taken, even if the crime was not within our jurisdiction, and forwarded to the appropriate agency. In addition, to respond to the house bill that eliminates the statues of limitations for human trafficking, we will continue to investigate any reported, regardless of when the offense was committed.'
McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout echoed MPD's process, stating the sheriff's office ensures that all reports are taken seriously and investigated.
In other law-enforcement-related statutes, state lawmakers passed a bill in response to the murder of Springfield resident Sonya Massey, who was killed in 2024 when former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson shot her in her kitchen while investigating a reported prowler. Grayson, who had a history of serious reprimands, was convicted of second-degree murder in October. Under Senate Bill 1953, a police department or sheriff's office making a hire is required to request employment personnel files from the applicant's previous employers, including other law enforcement agencies. The previous employer is required to share the information within 14 days. Law enforcement applicants are required to sign a document authorizing the release of information, including military service records, police discipline databases, employment and criminal history and more.
For both MPD and the McDonough County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), this bill will not affect their respective hiring processes as both agencies are already doing thorough background checks on both lateral transfers and new hires. MPD uses a third-party agency to conduct background checks, and from their end, will continue to provide records and other information to agencies who are hiring former MPD officers, Tedrow noted. The MCSO conducts its own checks into potential hires, Petitgout explained, and will continue its thorough vetting process of deputy candidates.
'We've been doing thorough background checks for some time to ensure we hire the best people. This new bill will simply make it easier to get records,' Petitgout added. 'The new bill has the support of the Illinois Sheriff's Association.'
Senate Bill 1563 aka 'The Squatter Bill' gives more leeway to police in removing squatters from properties in which they have no rights to. The new statute now allows police more authority to remove squatters, making it possible for police to remove them immediately upon receiving a complaint. The new bill supersedes what had previously been a possible lengthy eviction process, which also permitted the squatters to remain on the property during the court process. Again, like the other new laws that went into effect Jan. 1, SB 1563 will have no big changes for either Macombbased department.
'We've always acted in accordance with the law and removed people from property that do not belong to them and we charge with criminal trespass if warranted,' Tedrow shared. 'While we've had some squatters in vacant homes in the area, this really isn't a big problem here.'
Eviction proceedings are carried out through the sheriff's office. Petitgout pointed out his office is well-versed in the process and the rights of the homeowner/landlord, as well as the renter.
The final bill surrounding law enforcement, Senate Bill 24, ends waiting periods for filing missing person reports. Police must take reports right away and cannot refuse to take a report because of the person’s age, mental health, possible foul play, where they went missing or because they may have left on their own. Police also cannot refuse to take a report because the person making it does not have all the information or is not a family member of the missing person. Again, for both MPD and MCSO, there was never a waiting time for filing a report.
'We’ve never turned people away. Maybe years and years ago, it was different, but we will take reports of missing persons without issue,' the sheriff explained.
According to Tedrow, his department takes an 'aggressive' approach to find an individual who is reported missing or endangered, and will continue to act immediately upon receiving a report.
For a full list of new laws that took effect at the beginning of the new year and into 2026, including how area representatives and senators voted, visit ilga.gov.
