Licenses and fees: The cost of registering a car in Illinois increased from $79 to $99 to help pay for the $31 billion state capital plan. The cost of a fishing license went up $12 to $14.50, hunting licenses almost doubled from $7 to $12, and a deer license went from $15 to $25.

A state law passed in 2007 offers some property tax relief by increasing the homestead exemption to $6,000 for 2009 taxes payable this year.

Transportation: The ban on texting while driving is only one of several new transportation-related laws.

As of today, any driver who receives court supervision for violating traffic laws will pay $30 in supervision fees, rather than $20. Another law increases the speed limit for semi truck drivers on interstate highways in rural areas to 65 mph. The law does not apply to rural interstates in Cook and the collar counties.

Metra passengers now can purchase tickets by credit card for no extra fee.

Juvenile crime: The age for misdemeanor cases to be held in juvenile court now is 17 years of age, rather than 16. Juvenile courts now have better access to mental health, substance abuse, and other rehabilitation programs. The new law does not change for juveniles accused of felonies.

Voting: A Senate bill effective today sets standard hours statewide for early voting.

Early voting polling places must remain open for eight hours on weekdays, starting at either 8:30 or 9 a.m., and between 9 a.m. and noon on weekends and holidays. Election authorities in counties with more than 250,000 people and cities with more than 100,000 must keep the polls open for another eight hours on the final weekend of early voting.

Another law requires all voting systems to notify voters if their ballot leaves any races blank, or if they do not vote for statewide offices, such as governor.

Health: All physical fitness facilities must have at least one employee trained in the use of automated external defibrillators on staff during business hours.

Odds and ends: Bowling alleys effective today must place warnings near their entrances advising people not to wear bowling shoes outdoors because it increases the odds of them slipping indoors. Owners who comply are not liable for injuries caused by people who slip because they tracked in a substance from outside.

Effective today, all American flags flying over public property in Illinois have to be made in the U.S.; foreign-made flags can fly until they need to be replaced.