Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) waded through more than 100 bills in his in box on Friday. Included in the ones he signed were a bill to ban the gay panic defense in criminal proceedings and a bill making it easier for transgender people to have their birth certificate altered. Also milkweed is now the state flower, cycling the state exercise and dogs and cats the state pets.

Formerly, state law said transgender people could only change their birth certificates if a doctor said they had transition surgery. The new law would allow for a change if a medical or mental health provider confirms someone has received "clinically appropriate" treatment. A range of practices including hormone therapy would be covered, using a similar standard that applies to U.S. passports.

It's basic common sense that a person's gender should be recognized and respected, whether or not that person has had any particular kind of surgery. I'm extremely proud of our state for taking this important step to modernize a law that has been a significant barrier in transgender people's lives for many, many years.

--John Knight, ACLU of Illinois

Rauner also approved legislation banning what's known as the "gay panic" defense for defendants accused of murder. Effective January, defendants will no longer be allowed to argue they acted out of passion after learning a victim was gay. People accused of first-degree murder won't be able to use that claim as a mitigating factor to reduce their possible punishment. And sexual orientation can't be considered provocation for second-degree murder.