NEW YEAR NEW YOU HERE IS TO A FRESH START!
Wednesday • December 31, 2025
New laws: Illinois expands job-protected leave for parents with newborns in NICU
IMAGE: The Illinois State Capitol is pictured in Springfield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki) _______________________________
By BRENDEN MOORE Capitol News Illinois bmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com llinois workers with a newborn in a neonatal intensive care unit will soon have additional access to jobprotected, unpaid leave. Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 2978, dubbed the Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act, earlier this year and it takes effect Jan. 1. It requires employers of between 16 and 50 workers to provide up to 10 days of unpaid leave to employees who have a child in the NICU. Larger employers must provide up to 20 days. The law applies to both part- and full-time workers. It covers a broader swath of workers than the federal Family and Medical Leave Act — the law requiring public agencies, K-12 schools and private companies with at least 50 employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year. Workers eligible for FMLA must exhaust that leave first before utilizing NICU leave. Employers covered under the law must maintain their employee’s health insurance benefits and guarantee their reinstatement upon the conclusion of leave. Employers can’t force workers to exhaust their paid leave instead of unpaid NICU leave, though employees can take it if they choose. Violations may result in fines of up to $5,000. Here are some other new labor laws that take effect in 2026. AI in employment decisions An amendment to the Illinois Human Rights Act, House Bill 3773, prohibits use of AI in employment decisions such as recruitment, hiring and promotion if that use results in discrimination due to race, religion, sex and age. The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, will require employers to disclose use of AI in employment decisions. The measure, however, could potentially run afoul of a
recent order that limits how states can regulate AI. Documenting domestic violence House Bill 1278 prevents employers from disciplining employees for using work devices to document domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence or other forms of violence against them or a family member. Employers also have to grant employees access to such documentation and communications stored on the devices. The law was inspired by a New York woman who used her work device to document domestic abuse committed by her husband. She was disciplined by her employer and later murdered by her husband. Workplace transparency House Bill 3638 amends the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act to broaden the definition of “unlawful employment practice” to include any act prohibited by the Illinois Human Rights Act, the federal Civil Rights Act and any other state or federal law covering employment issues. Employment contracts can also no longer include terms that limit an employee’s ability to engage in “concerted activity” like collective bargaining. And it prohibits contract stipulations that shorten the statute of limitations for employee claims, apply the law of another state to claims or require claims be resolved outside Illinois. Paid leave for organ donors House Bill 1616 extends paid leave requirements for organ donors to part-time employees. Under the law, workers can use up to 10 days leave per year to serve as an organ donor. Part-time workers’ pay for these days will be their average daily pay rate over the previous two months. Military honors Under Senate Bill 220, employers with more than 50 workers must offer up to eight hours of paid leave per month — capped at 40 hours per calendar year — for employees to participate in a military funeral honors detail. It is in addition to regular paid time off. Unemployment benefits House Bill 3200 allows for someone who voluntarily leaves their job for mental health reasons to be eligible for unemployment benefits. It is a three-year pilot program that sunsets Dec. 24, 2028. Maggie Dougherty contributed to this report. Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Governor Braun Announces Record Year For Indiana Tourism INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 23, 2025) – Indiana tourism surged past pre-pandemic levels in 2024, delivering impressive numbers for visitor spending, jobs and tax revenue, according to a report released by Governor Mike Braun on Monday. The report shows tourism continues to be a major engine of economic growth across the state, supporting more than 210,000 jobs and generating billions in spending to strengthen local communities and Main Streets. “Our state’s record tourism year is great news for Hoosiers and proof of just how much there is to love about visiting Indiana,” said Governor Mike Braun. “Tourism means jobs, stronger Main Streets, and economic growth. These results show that our investments are yielding returns for our economy and showing what makes Indiana a great place to live, work, play and stay.” Key findings from the 2024 report include: • 83 million visitors traveled to Indiana in 2024, a 1.9% increase from the previous year • $16.9 billion in visitor spending, up 4.7% and fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels • $203 spent per visitor, a continuing upward trend from previous years • $3.2 billion in tax revenue generated, including:
- Federal: $1.4 billion; - State: $1.1 billion; - Local: $740 million. • More than 210,000 full and part-time jobs supported by tourism statewide • Business travel surged 10% as both group and transient segments rebounded • International travel grew 4.7%, continuing its positive trajectory • For every $1 spent by visitors, 65 cents stayed in Indiana’s economy
“Indiana’s tourism industry continued its strong momentum in 2024, and remains a driver of our state’s economy,” said Amy Howell, IDDC Interim CEO. “With many metrics passing pre-pandemic levels, it is evident that tourism is fueling growth in communities statewide, and we look forward to further establishing Indiana as a top travel destination.”
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6 Steps to Start a New Year Routine (Family Features) With time away from work and school - not to mention indulgent feasts and social commitments - it’s easy to let good habits go by the wayside around the turn of the new year. Whether you’re resolving to get back to a regular routine or starting one anew in 2026, now is a perfect time to rethink your day-to-day for heightened productivity and less stress. Commit to a new year of new routines with this step-by-step guidance. Establish Bed and Wake Routines When routines begin to fade, sleep is often one of the first areas of health that can slip. It’s also one of the simplest bad habits to shake. Hold yourself accountable by preparing for sleep at the same time each night with an easy-to-follow routine - like brushing your teeth, drinking a glass of water and changing into pajamas - that signals to your body it’s time to rest. Waking up at the same time each day, even on the weekends, can help you dial in on a more natural sleep and wake rhythm. Organize and Declutter If a messy home is what’s keeping you awake at night, try putting a weekly or biweekly “cleaning day” on the calendar and ask family members to do their part. Start in shared spaces like the kitchen, bathrooms and living areas then divide and conquer bedrooms, prioritizing throwing away (or recycling) items that aren’t used frequently while reorganizing chaotic spaces for peace of mind. Plan Meals and Snacks The hectic nature of life, especially busy weeknights, is inescapable. Whether you’re wrapping up late work meetings, running kids to activities, tackling homework or juggling errands, turning to a tasty, convenient air fryer snack like Mrs. T’s Snack Pierogies can hold the family over before mealtime. All you need is an air fryer and 8 minutes to enjoy big and bold, on-trend flavors including Cheddar Sour Cream and Onion, 5 Cheese or Cheddar Ranch Seasoned with Bacon. Easy for teens to prep on their own and ideal for busy moms, they’re a perfect bite to whip up while getting back into the swing of things in 2026. Update Family Calendars Keeping up with a schedule full of field trips, sporting events, work meetings, social commitments and weekend activities can be a chore, but turning to technology makes it more manageable. Choose a family calendar app that can be downloaded to your devices and log all of your upcoming events so everyone stays in the know. Review Screentime Habits While tech can encourage better organization and planning, it can also encroach on special moments together. After a break from school and work, you might’ve noticed more screentime around the house - making this an ideal time to return to screentime limits or, at the least, mindfulness of how often you and your loved ones are in front of a TV, computer or mobile device. Encourage kids to put down the tablets and instead opt for family game nights or craft sessions, putting your creativity to the test while reconnecting offline. Plan for Downtime Reshaping day-to-day schedules, reviewing routines and preparing for a strong start to 2026 doesn’t mean fun is out the window. You can meet your goals and set your family up for success with, like always, a little planning. While building out your calendar with mandatory meetings and obligations, make sure to prioritize downtime, too. Schedule family game nights, dinners at home when everyone is available or a weekend trip to a favorite nearby attraction. Remember what matters most in the hustle and bustle: shared moments with your nearest and dearest. Learn more and find quick, easy snacking solutions as you dive into 2026 at mrstspierogies.com/ snackpierogies.