Maryland has passed a law which requires covered employers ( defined as employers employing 15 or more employees for each working day each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year) to provide certain reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees, as long as it does not pose an undue hardship to do so. This includes but is not limited to exploring a transfer to a less strenuous or less hazardous position (e.g. light duty). In addition, the law requires covered employers to post and include in any employee handbook information concerning an employee’s rights to reasonable accommodations and leave for a disability caused or contributed to by pregnancy. The new law is effective October 1, 2013.

Property owners wishing to prohibit concealed firearms from being carried on their property must post officially approved signage conspicuously at the entrance of their building, premises or real property, according to a regulation published by the Illinois State Police. Owners of parcels where concealed carry is prohibited by the Illinois Firearms Concealed Carry Act also must post the required sign in the same manner. The IL state police have released guidance on the posting requirements as well as a model poster. For more information please review the details below.

On January 1, 2014, Illinois will become the 20th state in the nation to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. Illinois’ governor signed the legislation, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act (“Cannabis Act”), to create the four-year pilot program. The program allows patients diagnosed with one of 42 specific, debilitating medical conditions to use medicinal marijuana. Qualifying individuals will be issued a Registry Identification Card by the Department of Public Health. Illinois has removed state-level criminal penalties from the medical use and cultivation of cannabis. The purpose of the Act is to protect patients with certain debilitating medical conditions, as well as their physicians and providers, from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties, and property forfeiture if the patients engage in the medical use of cannabis.