Over 200 new Illinois laws to take effect in new year

CHICAGO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 new laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2018, in the U.S. state of Illinois.

The new laws include a controversial one signed by Governor Rauner to expand taxpayer-funded abortions, and one supported by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to help crack down on repeat gun offenders, Chicago Tribune reported Friday.

Under the new law governing repeat gun offenders, the prison sentences for some people who commit repeat gun crimes will be increased, from a range of three to 14 years to seven to 14 years.

Under new laws, it will be easier for people who identify as transgender to change the sex designation on their birth certificates; customers will be able to post company and product reviews online without fear of retribution; preschool and early childhood education programs can no longer expel students; public schools would have to provide a designated space for students to breastfeed and provide feminine hygiene products at no cost, in an attempt to prevent students from missing school; cycling will become the state's official exercise; and Illinois will recognize Aug. 4 as Barack Obama Day. Enditem