Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed 15 bills into law Friday.
The bills, which take effect in the coming months, address issues from criminal justice to education transportation. Among them are laws that will:
Make it easier for people with past felony convictions to change their names. Under the new law, which takes effect January 1, people convicted of identity theft, registered sex offenders and registered violent offenders may change their names because of "marriage, religious beliefs, status as victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act."
Allow offenders with life sentences who were convicted before they were 21 years of age to seek parole review after serving 40 years of their sentence.
Allow cars, vans and other vehicles to be used as school buses with a permit from the Secretary of State.