HB0988 - PARK ZONE STREET DEFINITION
House Amendment 1 (Adopted)
House Floor Amendment 1 to HB 0988 makes a focused change to the Illinois Vehicle Code by removing the definition of a “park zone street” as any portion of a State or local street or intersection under the control of a local unit of government.
Analysis and Potential Impact:
1. Narrowing the Definition
The amendment strikes language that broadly defined “park zone street,” which previously allowed for the designation of any state or local street or intersection under local government control as a park zone.
2. Regulatory Implications
By removing this broad definition, the amendment may limit or clarify the types of streets that can be officially designated as “park zones” for purposes such as speed restrictions, traffic enforcement, or signage.
3. Impact on Local Governments (Counties and Municipalities)
• This could reduce flexibility for local governments (including counties) to designate streets near parks or recreational areas as park zones unless a more specific definition remains or is added elsewhere in statute.
• Local units may need to reassess current park zone designations and their legal basis.
• May affect traffic enforcement policies, particularly regarding speed limits, signage, and safety enhancements near parks.
4. Public Safety Considerations
If fewer streets qualify as park zones due to this change, there could be concerns about the ability of local governments to enforce slower speed limits or additional protections in areas with high pedestrian or child activity.
Summary and Implications
This amendment removes a broad definition of “park zone street,” which could narrow the scope of areas eligible for park zone-related traffic controls. Counties and municipalities may need to reevaluate how they designate and enforce such zones, and whether additional legislative or regulatory clarity is needed to maintain safety around parks.
HB1263 - VEH CD-NON-HIGHWAY VEHICLES
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the operation of a non-highway vehicle is authorized if it is operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 55 (rather than 35) miles per hour or less and the use of the non-highway vehicle is permitted by the unit of local government. Provides that a non-highway vehicle may cross a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 55 (rather than 35) miles per hour. Provides that a county board located in a county that permits the use of a non-highway vehicle on its roadways shall not be deemed liable for crashes involving the use of a non-highway vehicle on its roadways.
HB1349 - VEH CD-NON-HIGHWAY VEHICLES
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that it shall be permissible to operate a non-highway vehicle on all roadways within the boundaries of a municipality with a total population less than 10,000 persons and population density of less than 750 persons per square mile, and the municipality has authorized the use of non-highway vehicles. Provides that a non-highway vehicle being operated within a municipality under the provisions shall be operated only by: (i) a disabled veteran who would be otherwise eligible for a disabled veteran registration plate and who has been issued a person with disabilities parking placard; (ii) on the farthest outside lane or shoulder of a roadway with a speed limit not in excess of 35 miles per hour; (iii) for a distance of less than 5 miles per one-way trip from the point of origin to the point of destination; (iv) with the person with disabilities parking placard displayed; and (v) without crossing any toll roads or limited-access highways. Effective immediately.
HB1389 - VEH CD-SPEED ENFORCE SYSTEMS
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Expands the provisions regarding automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones to include municipalities in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will (instead of just the City of Chicago). Provides that the net proceeds a municipality receives from civil penalties imposed under an automated speed enforcement system shall be expended or obligated by the municipality for, among other purposes, the remission of $5 from each civil penalty to the State Treasurer for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, which shall be remitted to the State Treasurer as determined by the State Treasurer. Provides that if an automated speed enforcement system is removed or rendered inoperable due to construction, then the Department of Transportation shall authorize the reinstallation or use of the automated speed enforcement system within 30 days after the construction is complete.
HB1397 - QUICK-TAKE WILL COUNTY
Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take powers may be used for a period of no more than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act by Will County for the acquisition of certain described property for the purpose of road construction. Repeals the new provisions 3 years after the effective date. Effective immediately.
HB1709 - LOCAL-ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Creates the Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act. Defines terms. Provides that a unit of local government may not prohibit the building or usage of accessory dwelling units in the unit of local government. Provides that a unit of local government may provide reasonable regulations relating to the size and location of accessory dwelling units similar to other accessory structures unless a regulation would have the effect of prohibiting accessory dwelling units. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.
HB1755 - AGING-BENEFITS ACCESS PROGRAM
Repeals the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act and removes all cross-references to the Act in various statutes. Amends the Illinois Act on the Aging. Requires the Department on Aging to implement and administer the Benefits Access Program and to establish the eligibility criteria under the program for: (1) the Secretary of State with respect to reduced fees paid by qualified vehicle owners under the Illinois Vehicle Code; (2) special districts that offer free fixed route public transportation services for qualified older adults under the Local Mass Transit District Act, the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, and the Regional Transportation Authority Act; and (3) special districts that offer transit services for qualified individuals with disabilities under the Local Mass Transit District Act, the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Sets forth household income eligibility limits and other eligibility requirements under the program. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules concerning automatic renewals and appeal rights under the program. Makes corresponding changes concerning the program to the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, the Local Mass Transit District Act, the Regional Transportation Authority Act, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Older Adult Services Act, and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Further amends the Illinois Act on the Aging by removing a requirement that the Department: (i) study the feasibility of implementing an affirmative action employment plan for the recruitment, hiring, and training of persons 60 years of age or older; and (ii) develop a multilingual pamphlet to assist physicians, pharmacists, and patients in monitoring prescriptions provided by various physicians and to aid persons 65 years of age or older in complying with directions for proper use of pharmaceutical prescriptions. Adds a requirement that the Department implement the Older Americans Act. Removes provisions requiring a Community Care Program Medicaid Initiative and a Community Care Program Medicaid Enrollment Oversight Subcommittee. Makes other changes.
HB1873 - PUBLIC ACCESS-NAVIGABLE WATERS
Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters includes all rights recognized by State or federal law, including the rights set forth in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the federal navigational servitude, and all rights arising under the public trust doctrine, which shall be understood and applied in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Act to maximize the full and free enjoyment of State waters by the public. Provides that any segment of a lake, river, or stream that is capable of supporting use by commercial or recreational watercraft for a substantial part of the year, or that is actually so used, shall be deemed navigable, and shall be open to public access and use, unless the contrary is proven in litigation by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that public uses in such waters shall include boating, tubing, fishing, swimming, and wading. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to protect such public uses against interference or encroachment as provided in the Act. Provides that no action or inaction by the Department of Natural Resources shall create a presumption, in any civil or criminal litigation, against the navigability of any waterway segment. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters shall be subject to specified protections and limitations, a violation of which shall be punished as otherwise provided by law, and, if likely to continue, enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that nothing in the Act shall limit the right of any person to challenge the legality of alleged interference with the public right to access or use navigable waters in any appropriate civil or criminal litigation.
HB1907 - VEH CD-NOISE MONITORING
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a unit of local government, including a home rule unit, may not enact an ordinance providing for a noise monitoring system upon any portion of its roadways (removing language allowing the City of Chicago to enact an ordinance providing for a noise monitoring system upon any portion of the roadway known as Lake Shore Drive). Makes changes to the definition of "noise monitoring system".
HB2394 - VEH CD-WEIGHT LIMIT EXEMPTION
The legislation provides that a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated by an engine fueled wholly or partially by an electric battery or hydrogen fuel cell electric fueling system may exceed the posted weight limits by up to 2,000 pounds. The total allowance is calculated by an amount that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas or propane or hydrogen gas tank, batteries, and fueling system carried by the vehicle, and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.
HB2432 - VEH CD-RELOCATOR PERMIT FEE
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall allow commercial relocators to recover towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that are lawfully adopted by a unit of local government and imposed by a law enforcement agency as a necessary administrative fee in order to effectuate an existing relocator program in the unit of local government where the law enforcement agency and relocator operate. Allows the Commission to set the maximum amount of towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that a commercial relocator may recover.
HB2442 - TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPT DEVICE
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows vehicles used by by local emergency services and disaster agencies, when responding to a bona fide emergency and when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, to install and operate a traffic control signal preemption device.
HB2454 - TORT IMMUNITY-LOC GOVT-BIKES
Amends the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. Provides that a person operating a bicycle is deemed to be an intended user of every roadway and portion of roadway on which bicyclists are permitted to ride.
HB2657 - IDOT-S SUB AIRPORT-ANALYSIS
Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of the construction of the South Suburban Airport. Prohibits the State from allocating any additional funds to the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Prohibits the Department from using any funds granted to it under the Airport Improvement Program for the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Provides that any request for proposal under the Department's current request for quote process submitted to the Department after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall require any private developer to certify to the Department that no additional funds will be used for the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Effective immediately.
HB2675 - VEH CD-BIKE TRAIL SIGNAGE
HB2839 - CONSOLIDATE RTA SERVICE BOARDS
House Bill 2839 proposes a major structural overhaul of the governance and oversight of public transit in the Chicago metropolitan region.
Effective January 1, 2026, the bill consolidates the governance of three major transit agencies—the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra (commuter rail), and Pace (suburban bus service)—under the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The current separate boards for each of these entities—the Chicago Transit Board, the Suburban Bus Board (Pace), and the Commuter Rail Board (Metra)—would be abolished. In their place, the RTA Board of Directors would assume full governing authority over all three transit service divisions.
The legislation restructures the CTA as a division within the RTA and merges governance functions to streamline accountability and enhance regional coordination. In place of the now-independent boards, the RTA Board would establish specialized committees composed of its directors to oversee the operations of the CTA, suburban bus, and commuter rail divisions. These structural changes are intended to foster integrated planning, reduce administrative redundancies, and improve overall transit system performance.
In addition to revising the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act, HB 2839 makes necessary conforming changes to other statutes, including the Open Meetings Act, the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, and the Illinois Municipal Code. The bill signifies a comprehensive governance realignment aimed at unifying transit leadership and strengthening regional oversight in one of the nation’s largest transit markets.
HB2934 - VEH CD-CHANGE TO SPEED LIMIT
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, on and after October 1, 2025, the default speed limit is 20 (instead of 30) miles per hour within an urban district, and 10 (instead of 15) miles per hour in an alley within an urban district. Requires, by September 1, 2025, the Secretary of State to communicate the speed limit change to every licensed driver in the State via direct postal mail and a broad statewide communications campaign. Provides that a county, municipality, or township with speed enforcement authority may only issue warnings for violations during the first 60 days after the change of the speed limit is enacted. Effective immediately.
HB2963 - METRO & REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTH
House Bill 2963 introduces a multifaceted proposal to modernize transportation funding and oversight in Illinois, combining a road usage charge pilot program with significant changes to regional transit governance.
Road Usage Charge Pilot Program
The bill establishes the Road Usage Charge Act, which authorizes the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in consultation with the Secretary of State, to implement a statewide pilot program by January 1, 2026. This pilot will test the viability of a mileage-based user fee system as an alternative to traditional motor fuel taxes, reflecting the growing concern over the sustainability of fuel tax revenues amid increasing fuel efficiency and electric vehicle adoption.
To guide the development and evaluation of the program, the bill creates the Road Usage Charge Advisory Committee, which will include diverse stakeholders and be tasked with making recommendations on the structure and effectiveness of the pilot. The initiative marks a significant step toward long-term, usage-based funding models that align road maintenance costs more directly with vehicle miles traveled.
Chicago Transit Authority and Regional Transit Oversight
HB 2963 also amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, increasing the size of the Chicago Transit Board from 7 to 8 members effective February 1, 2026. It modifies the voting requirements for bond issuance, likely to ensure broader consensus in financial decision-making.
More extensively, the bill revises the Regional Transportation Authority Act to enhance oversight and integration of the Chicago region’s public transportation system:
• Farebox Recovery Ratio Reform: It establishes revised farebox recovery ratio targets for mass transit:
• At least 25% of operating costs covered by fare revenues in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
• At least 15% in fiscal years 2028 and 2029 and each year thereafter, reflecting a long-term policy shift toward more flexible and sustainable funding expectations.
• Centralized Fare Collection Oversight: Starting July 1, 2026, the RTA will become the sole agency responsible for the management and oversight of fare collection systems for all service boards (CTA, Metra, Pace). This move aims to promote systemwide integration and operational efficiency.
• Governance Adjustments: The bill makes changes to the composition of the Suburban Bus Board and Commuter Rail Board and modifies the required number of affirmative votes by the RTA Board for various strategic and financial decisions—including budgeting, fare coordination, paratransit, bonding, and revenue distribution. These adjustments seek to improve governance transparency and unify strategic transit planning across the region.
Summary
HB 2963 is a comprehensive transportation policy bill that advances two key objectives: (1) exploring a sustainable, mileage-based alternative to motor fuel taxation and (2) reforming regional transit governance to support greater integration, accountability, and financial resilience. The legislation reflects an evolving vision for Illinois’ transportation infrastructure—one that adapts to new mobility trends while addressing funding and coordination challenges across urban and suburban transit systems.
HB3196 - CTA/METRA/PACE-FREE SERVICES
Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Chicago Transit Authority, Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of the income eligibility limitation set forth in specified provisions of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act (rather than who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in that Act).
HB3235 - DOWNSTATE TRANSPORT-CALL-RIDE
Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act. Provides that a participant may use grant moneys under the Act to establish a call-for-ride service in rural areas.
HB3256 - PEOPLE OVER PARKING ACT
Creates the People Over Parking Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, a unit of local government may not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirements on a development project if the project is located within one-half mile of a public transportation hub. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective June 1, 2025.
HB3257 - HGWY-TOURIST ORIENTED SIGNS
Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 and the Illinois Highway Code. Allows the Department of Transportation to post tourist oriented directional signs at intersections in rural areas at all sections of rural non-freeways except those passing through urban areas with populations of 7,000 or more.
HB3284 - VEH CD-TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a municipality or unit of local government may erect and maintain a specialized traffic control device at an intersection where an emergency response vehicle enters the roadway or within 1,000 feet from a structure where such vehicles are stored. Allows the specialized traffic control device to be controlled by the emergency response unit or fire station as the emergency response vehicle enters or exits traffic.
HB3388 - VEH CD-FIRE DEPT VEHICLES
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Includes any recreational off-highway vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft that is designated or authorized by proper local authorities for fire department use in the definition of "fire department vehicle". Effective immediately.
HB3608 - VEH CD-CDL DRIVER SCHOOL
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Prohibits a person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation from operating a commercial driver training school (rather than a driver training school) or engage in the business of providing any Entry-Level Driver Training or Skills, Road, or Pretrip curriculum for commercial driving for no fee or for a fee involving (1) the driving of motor vehicles or (2) the preparation of an applicant for examination given by the Secretary of State for a driver's license or commercial learner's permit, unless a license therefore has been issued by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to quarterly review the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Training Provider Registry and the listing of State licensed commercial driving schools. Provides that any person that violates any provision of the Act in relation to the requirements stated in the Code of Federal Regulations shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000 for the violation and an additional civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each day during which the violation continues. Allows the State's Attorney of the county in which the violation occurred, the Attorney General, or the Secretary to institute a civil action for an injunction to restrain violations of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, or any permit or term or condition of a permit or to require such other actions as may be necessary to address violations of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, any permit or term or condition of a permit, or order. Provides that all funds collected shall be deposited into the Motor Carrier Safety Inspection Fund.
HB3778 - TRANSPORTATION-VARIOUS
House Bill 3778 proposes a transformative restructuring of public transportation governance and planning in the northeastern Illinois region. Through the creation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority (MMA), the legislation consolidates several major transit agencies into a single, unified authority and introduces a new framework for transit-supportive development aimed at promoting equitable and accessible land use around high-quality transit services.
1. Creation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority
HB 3778 enacts the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act, which consolidates the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), and the RTA’s Service Boards—Pace (Suburban Bus) and Metra (Commuter Rail)—into the new Metropolitan Mobility Authority. As part of this overhaul:
• The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act are repealed.
• The former agencies are replaced by three operating divisions under the new MMA:
• Chicago Transit Operating Division
• Commuter Rail Operating Division
• Suburban Bus Operating Division
This consolidation aims to eliminate overlapping administrative structures and enable more integrated regional transit planning, policy, and service delivery.
2. Operational Framework and Governance
The bill reinserts and reorganizes relevant provisions from the repealed Acts into the new statutory structure, establishing guidelines for the governance, funding, and oversight of the MMA. It also aligns various existing statutes with the new governance model by making conforming amendments to numerous Illinois laws, codes, and administrative regulations.
Additionally, HB 3778 adds a provision to the Toll Highway Act, granting the Chair of the MMA a nonvoting seat on the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, further linking highway and transit planning across the region.
3. Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act
In parallel with the governance reforms, HB 3778 creates the Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act, which aims to promote land use practices that support increased transit ridership and equitable community development. Key components include:
• The establishment of an Office of Equitable Transit-Oriented Development and a Transit-Supportive Development Fund.
• The provision of targeted funding to municipalities that:
• Adopt a transit support overlay district, or
• Implement zoning and land use reforms that meet or exceed the benefits of such districts.
• Oversight responsibilities for setting development standards, determining eligibility, and producing evaluation reports.
This initiative recognizes the importance of aligning transit investments with housing, jobs, and sustainable land use in order to create more vibrant, accessible communities.
4. Creation of the Office of Public Transportation Support
HB 3778 also amends the Department of Transportation Law to require the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to establish an Office of Public Transportation Support. The Office’s mission is to optimize transit vehicle operations and service delivery on roadways under IDOT’s jurisdiction within the MMA’s service region. Its responsibilities include coordination with the MMA to enhance service efficiency, reliability, and intermodal connectivity.
5. Effective Date and Implementation
Some provisions of the bill are effective immediately, setting the stage for a staged implementation process. The complete transition to the Metropolitan Mobility Authority would require substantial administrative, legal, and operational work, likely over a multiyear timeline.
Summary
HB 3778 is one of the most ambitious transit reform proposals in recent Illinois legislative history. It seeks to modernize and unify the region’s fragmented transit governance under a single agency—the Metropolitan Mobility Authority—while also laying the groundwork for equitable, transit-oriented development across the region. By aligning governance, planning, land use, and service optimization, the bill represents a bold shift toward a more integrated, rider-focused, and sustainable transportation system.
HB3862 - VEH CD-NON-HIGHWAY VEHICLES
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the Department of Natural Resources to authorize the operation of non-highway vehicles on the roadways under its jurisdiction if the Department determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized. Provides that a county board or township located in a county that permits the use of a non-highway vehicle on its roadways shall not be deemed liable for crashes involving the use of a non-highway vehicle on its roadways. Subjects 2-wheeled non-highway vehicles to the same safety requirements as motorcycles.
SB0005 - METROPOLITAN MOBILITY AUTH ACT
Senate Bill 5 proposes a transformative restructuring of public transportation governance and planning in the northeastern Illinois region. Through the creation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority (MMA), the legislation consolidates several major transit agencies into a single, unified authority and introduces a new framework for transit-supportive development aimed at promoting equitable and accessible land use around high-quality transit services.
1. Creation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority
SB 5 enacts the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act, which consolidates the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), and the RTA’s Service Boards—Pace (Suburban Bus) and Metra (Commuter Rail)—into the new Metropolitan Mobility Authority. As part of this overhaul:
• The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act are repealed.
• The former agencies are replaced by three operating divisions under the new MMA:
• Chicago Transit Operating Division
• Commuter Rail Operating Division
• Suburban Bus Operating Division
This consolidation aims to eliminate overlapping administrative structures and enable more integrated regional transit planning, policy, and service delivery.
2. Operational Framework and Governance
The bill reinserts and reorganizes relevant provisions from the repealed Acts into the new statutory structure, establishing guidelines for the governance, funding, and oversight of the MMA. It also aligns various existing statutes with the new governance model by making conforming amendments to numerous Illinois laws, codes, and administrative regulations.
Additionally, SB 5 adds a provision to the Toll Highway Act, granting the Chair of the MMA a nonvoting seat on the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, further linking highway and transit planning across the region.
3. Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act
In parallel with the governance reforms, SB 5 creates the Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act, which aims to promote land use practices that support increased transit ridership and equitable community development. Key components include:
• The establishment of an Office of Equitable Transit-Oriented Development and a Transit-Supportive Development Fund.
• The provision of targeted funding to municipalities that:
• Adopt a transit support overlay district, or
• Implement zoning and land use reforms that meet or exceed the benefits of such districts.
• Oversight responsibilities for setting development standards, determining eligibility, and producing evaluation reports.
This initiative recognizes the importance of aligning transit investments with housing, jobs, and sustainable land use in order to create more vibrant, accessible communities.
4. Creation of the Office of Public Transportation Support
SB 5 also amends the Department of Transportation Law to require the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to establish an Office of Public Transportation Support. The Office’s mission is to optimize transit vehicle operations and service delivery on roadways under IDOT’s jurisdiction within the MMA’s service region. Its responsibilities include coordination with the MMA to enhance service efficiency, reliability, and intermodal connectivity.
5. Effective Date and Implementation
Some provisions of the bill are effective immediately, setting the stage for a staged implementation process. The complete transition to the Metropolitan Mobility Authority would require substantial administrative, legal, and operational work, likely over a multiyear timeline.
Summary
SB 5 is one of the most ambitious transit reform proposals in recent Illinois legislative history. It seeks to modernize and unify the region’s fragmented transit governance under a single agency—the Metropolitan Mobility Authority—while also laying the groundwork for equitable, transit-oriented development across the region. By aligning governance, planning, land use, and service optimization, the bill represents a bold shift toward a more integrated, rider-focused, and sustainable transportation system.
SB0110 - CONCEAL CARRY-PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Eliminates language providing that a licensee under the Act shall not knowingly carry a firearm on any bus, train, or form of transportation paid for in whole or in part with public funds, and any building, real property, and parking area under the control of a public transportation facility paid for in whole or in part with public funds. Effective immediately.
SB0852 - TRAFFIC COURT COMPLIANCE ACT
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In provisions concerning procedures for traffic violations, provides that if a person does not do certain actions, a court shall (i) for those offenses under the Code that are punishable only by fine (rather than a court shall enter an ex parte judgment), enter an ex parte judgment of conviction imposing a single assessment, specified in the applicable assessment Schedule 10 or 10.5 (rather than 10, 10.5, or 11) for the charged offense plus a fine allowed by statute and the clerk of the court shall notify the Secretary of State in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary of the court's order (rather than only a fine allowed by statute) or (ii) for those offenses under the Code that are punishable by a sentence of imprisonment, enter an order of failure to appear. Provides that the clerk of the court shall notify the Secretary of State, on a report prescribed by the Secretary, of the court's order. Provides that the Secretary, when notified by the clerk of the court that an order of failure to appear has been entered, shall immediately suspend the person's driver's license, which shall be designated by the Secretary as a failure to appear suspension. Provides that the Secretary shall not remove the suspension, nor issue any permit or privileges to the person whose license has been suspended, until the Secretary is notified by the ordering court that the person has appeared and resolved the violation or failure to appear order. Provides that, upon compliance, the clerk of the court shall present the person with a notice of compliance containing the seal of the court and shall notify the Secretary that the person has appeared and resolved the violation or failure to appear order. Provides that the changes made to certain provisions by Public Act 103-789 apply to each individual whose license was suspended pursuant to the provisions from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025 for an offense under the Code that is punishable only by fine and did not involve the death of another person. Provides that, no later than October 1, 2025, the clerk of the court shall notify the Secretary of State in a manner and form prescribed by the Secretary, of each failure to appear notification previously sent to the Secretary by the clerk of the court resulting from an offense that is punishable only by fine and did not involve the death of another person for which a notice of compliance had not been sent to the Secretary. Provides that, no later than January 1, 2026, the Secretary shall rescind the suspension of each driver identified by the clerk of the court without further action by the person whose driver's license is suspended pursuant to certain provisions. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1250 - ROADS-LOOSE GRAVEL ALERTS
Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Requires the Department of Transportation, in each road district, to erect signage stating that there is loose gravel ahead at any entrance to a road consisting mainly of loose gravel.
SB1254 - ATV/OHV FEES AND REGULATION
Amends the Recreational Trails of Illinois Act. Repeals provisions relating to the off-highway vehicle trails public access sticker and the Off-Highway Vehicle Usage Stamp. Amends the Counties Code, Township Code, and Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, except as provided by specified provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code, a county, township, and municipality may enact any regulation as it relates to the operation of an all-terrain vehicle, off-highway motorcycle, and recreational off-highway vehicle within its jurisdiction. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes registration fees for and some regulations of all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and recreational off-highway vehicles.
SB1272 - VEH CD-SPECIAL TRAFFIC DEVICE
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a municipality or unit of local government may erect and maintain a specialized traffic control device at an intersection where an emergency response vehicle enters the roadway or within 1,000 feet from a structure where such vehicles are stored. Allows the specialized traffic control device to be controlled by the emergency response unit or fire station as the emergency response vehicle enters or exits traffic.
SB1388 - RTA ACT-REDUCED FARES
Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that, by December 31, 2025, the Regional Transportation Authority, the Board of the Commuter Rail Division of the Authority, the Board of the Suburban Bus Division of the Authority, and the Board of the Chicago Transit Authority shall create a program to provide free rides to persons earning under 138% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' poverty guidelines. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB1445 - DOWNSTATE TRANSPORT-EXPENSES
Amends the Downstate Public Transportation Act. In an Article concerning urbanized area public transportation assistance, provides that the term "operating revenues" does not include income from advertising.
SB1608 - CARGO TRANSPORT ACT
Creates the Cargo Transportation Fee Act. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality or a county may impose a fee upon interstate carriers and intrastate carriers that (i) transport by common carrier tangible personal property in the State, (ii) transport that tangible personal property for the purpose of selling that tangible personal property at retail, and (iii) receive tangible personal property directly from an intermodal facility that is located in the municipality or county that enacts the ordinance. Sets forth the amount of the fee. Provides that 95% of the proceeds from the fee shall be deposited into the Cargo Transportation Fee Fund and 5% of the proceeds shall be deposited into the Motor Carrier Safety Inspection Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Cargo Transportation Fee Fund and sets forth the uses for that Fund.
SB1822 - IDOT-S SUB AIRPORT-ANALYSIS
Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of the construction of the South Suburban Airport. Prohibits the State from allocating any additional funds to the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Prohibits the Department from using any funds granted to it under the Airport Improvement Program for the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Provides that any request for proposal under the Department's current request for quote process submitted to the Department after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall require any private developer to certify to the Department that no additional funds will be used for the construction of the South Suburban Airport until the analysis is completed. Effective immediately.
SB1909 - QUICK-TAKE-KANE COUNTY
Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take proceedings may be used for a period of one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act by the Kane County Division of Transportation for the purpose of intersection realignment and separation improvement.. Effective immediately.
SB1938 - METRO & REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTH
Senate Bill 1938 introduces a multifaceted proposal to modernize transportation funding and oversight in Illinois, combining a road usage charge pilot program with significant changes to regional transit governance.
Road Usage Charge Pilot Program
The bill establishes the Road Usage Charge Act, which authorizes the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in consultation with the Secretary of State, to implement a statewide pilot program by January 1, 2026. This pilot will test the viability of a mileage-based user fee system as an alternative to traditional motor fuel taxes, reflecting the growing concern over the sustainability of fuel tax revenues amid increasing fuel efficiency and electric vehicle adoption.
To guide the development and evaluation of the program, the bill creates the Road Usage Charge Advisory Committee, which will include diverse stakeholders and be tasked with making recommendations on the structure and effectiveness of the pilot. The initiative marks a significant step toward long-term, usage-based funding models that align road maintenance costs more directly with vehicle miles traveled.
Chicago Transit Authority and Regional Transit Oversight
SB 1938 also amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act, increasing the size of the Chicago Transit Board from 7 to 8 members effective February 1, 2026. It modifies the voting requirements for bond issuance, likely to ensure broader consensus in financial decision-making.
More extensively, the bill revises the Regional Transportation Authority Act to enhance oversight and integration of the Chicago region’s public transportation system:
• Farebox Recovery Ratio Reform: It establishes revised farebox recovery ratio targets for mass transit:
• At least 25% of operating costs covered by fare revenues in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
• At least 15% in fiscal years 2028 and 2029 and each year thereafter, reflecting a long-term policy shift toward more flexible and sustainable funding expectations.
• Centralized Fare Collection Oversight: Starting July 1, 2026, the RTA will become the sole agency responsible for the management and oversight of fare collection systems for all service boards (CTA, Metra, Pace). This move aims to promote systemwide integration and operational efficiency.
• Governance Adjustments: The bill makes changes to the composition of the Suburban Bus Board and Commuter Rail Board and modifies the required number of affirmative votes by the RTA Board for various strategic and financial decisions—including budgeting, fare coordination, paratransit, bonding, and revenue distribution. These adjustments seek to improve governance transparency and unify strategic transit planning across the region.
Summary
SB 1938 is a comprehensive transportation policy bill that advances two key objectives: (1) exploring a sustainable, mileage-based alternative to motor fuel taxation and (2) reforming regional transit governance to support greater integration, accountability, and financial resilience. The legislation reflects an evolving vision for Illinois’ transportation infrastructure—one that adapts to new mobility trends while addressing funding and coordination challenges across urban and suburban transit systems.
SB1941 - VEH CD-FLASHING LIGHTS
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a unit of local government that has ownership or control over an intersection that is adjacent to property that is used for an elementary or secondary school to install at the ends of the pedestrian crosswalks for that intersection rapid flashing beacons that alert motor vehicle drivers to the presence of pedestrians in the crosswalk when the pedestrians who are using the crosswalk activate the beacons.
SB1948 - VEH CD-WEIGHT LIMIT EXEMPTION
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated by an engine fueled wholly or partially by an electric battery or hydrogen fuel cell electric fueling system may exceed the posted weight limits by up to 2,000 pounds.
SB1959 - HWY CD-IMPACT FEES/REFUNDS
Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that each unit of local government which imposes or intends to impose impact fees and which has created an Advisory Committee, shall publish the names of the Advisory Committee members names on the public website maintained by the unit of local government, together with a list of the dates and times at which the Advisory Committee has met and provide an electronically accessible copy of the minutes of any such meetings. Removes language providing that if the unit of local government has a planning or zoning commission, the unit of local government may elect to use its planning or zoning commission to serve as the Advisory Committee. Provides that a unit of local government which currently has in effect an impact fee ordinance or resolution shall have not more than 12 months from July 1, 2025 to bring its ordinance or resolution into conformance with the requirements imposed by the Act, except that a home rule unit of local government with a population over 75,000 and located in a county with a population over 600,000 and less than 2,000,000 shall have not more than 18 months from July 1, 2025 to bring that ordinance or resolution into conformance. Provides that any unit of local government which has in effect an impact fee ordinance or resolution on the effective date of the amendatory Act and which has not brought their impact fee ordinance or resolution into compliance by the required date, shall refund all funds previously collected under the impact fee ordinance or resolution together with any interest earned on the same. Effective January 1, 2026.
SB2070 - VEH CD-CHANGE TO SPEED LIMIT
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, on and after October 1, 2025, the default speed limit is 20 (instead of 30) miles per hour within an urban district, and 10 (instead of 15) miles per hour in an alley within an urban district. Requires, by September 1, 2025, the Secretary of State to communicate the speed limit change to every licensed driver in the State via direct postal mail and a broad statewide communications campaign. Provides that a county, municipality, or township with speed enforcement authority may only issue warnings for violations during the first 60 days after the change of the speed limit is enacted. Effective immediately.
SB2081 - VEH CD-FLEET PLATES-LOCAL GOV
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a unit of local government that engages in the operation of fleet of motor vehicles to register and license the fleet for operations in the State.
SB2111 - TRANSIT FUNDING AND REFORM
SB 2111 establishes the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) to replace the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and oversee the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace. NITA will centralize fare policy, service planning, capital investment decisions, and oversight, with a 20-member board split evenly among the City of Chicago, suburban Cook County, collar counties, and the governor. CTA, Metra, and Pace will retain service boards but must submit budgets and operational plans to NITA. New provisions create an Office of Transit Safety and Experience, a coordinated multi-agency transit law-enforcement task force led by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and a transit ambassador program to support riders. The bill also establishes an Interagency Coordinating Committee to improve transit innovation and statewide intercity connectivity, and adopts the People Over Parking Act, which prohibits local governments from imposing minimum parking requirements near transit corridors and hubs to encourage transit-oriented development.
To stabilize transit finances, lawmakers approved approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue shifts and revenue authority. The package redirects $860 million in state motor-fuel sales tax revenue and $200 million in interest from the state road fund to transit, resources traditionally used for statewide road and bridge projects. These funds will be split 85% to the Chicago region and 15% to downstate systems. The legislation also authorizes a 0.25% sales tax increase across the RTA service area and sharply raises Illinois Tollway rates—45 cents per passenger toll and a 30% increase for commercial vehicles—expected to generate $750 million to $1 billion annually for tollway road investments.
Concerns raised by the Operating Engineers Local 150 — particularly related to preserving state investment in highway and construction projects — played a key role in shaping the final funding plan. While the legislation diverts substantial motor-fuel tax revenue and road-fund interest to support Chicago-area transit operations and capital needs, lawmakers paired these changes with a substantial toll increase to safeguard road-building capacity. The bill raises Illinois Tollway passenger tolls by 45 cents and increases commercial tolls by 30%, with annual revenue projected between $750 million and $1 billion. These funds are dedicated to tollway road and bridge work rather than transit, serving as a direct offset to the diverted road dollars. This dedicated replacement stream addressed Local 150’s core concern of maintaining strong statewide transportation infrastructure investment and preserving construction jobs. The compromise secured the union’s support after it opposed a prior spring proposal that would have raised tolls without guaranteeing those revenues would remain within the road-building program, demonstrating labor’s influence in shaping the final approach.
Supporters describe the legislation as a historic transformation necessary to avoid deep service cuts—up to 40% at CTA—and protect jobs and regional mobility as federal pandemic aid expires and ridership remains below pre-COVID levels. Opponents, particularly downstate Republicans, criticized late-night passage and contend the bill shifts transportation resources disproportionately toward Chicago-area transit at the expense of statewide road needs. Downstate systems are expected to receive under $150 million in return, and local leaders warn that reduced road-fund capacity could slow highway projects in rural areas, increase competition for state dollars, and place greater pressure on local revenue sources.
The legislation’s diversion of motor-fuel tax and road-fund interest revenue toward Chicago-area transit has significant implications for downstate counties, which rely heavily on state transportation funds for road maintenance and capital improvements. While the bill allocates 15% of diverted transit dollars to downstate systems—estimated at under $150 million—critics argue this is outweighed by the loss of road-fund resources traditionally used statewide. Downstate counties may experience increased competition for limited road and bridge funding, potentially delaying projects or shifting more cost burden to local property and sales taxes. Additionally, because the reforms primarily restructure governance and planning authority in northeastern Illinois, downstate county governments do not benefit from the same level of system modernization and centralized coordination. As a result, downstate officials have expressed concern that the plan prioritizes urban transit stabilization at the expense of rural and regional infrastructure needs, with limited near-term benefit for communities outside the Chicago metropolitan area.
COUNTY IMPACTS
Land-Use and Development
- Counties with transit corridors and hubs lose authority to require minimum parking near transit, affecting zoning, development standards, and local planning autonomy.
- Potential increase in transit-oriented development could spur economic activity but may also require updates to local land-use ordinances and coordination with developers.
Transportation Funding
- Diversion of gas-tax and road-fund revenues toward transit may reduce future resources available for county transportation infrastructure and maintenance programs, particularly downstate.
- Toll increases may shift freight and commuter patterns, potentially impacting local roads as drivers bypass tolled routes.
Governance and Intergovernmental Coordination
- The new Northern Illinois Transit Authority Board shifts regional voting power by allocating appointments equally among the City of Chicago, suburban Cook County, the collar counties, and the Governor (five each), altering the previous balance of influence under the RTA and prompting concerns among collar county leaders about diminished autonomy and control in regional decision-making.
- Counties in the Chicago metropolitan area will now interact with NITA rather than the RTA, changing funding and planning relationships.
- Counties statewide may engage with the new Interagency Coordinating Committee to improve intercity connectivity, especially where county-run or partnered transit agencies operate.
Public Safety Coordination
- Counties in the Chicago region—especially Cook and collar counties—may have direct involvement in the new regional transit safety framework coordinated with local sheriff and police departments.
SB2129 - IDOT-LOCAL GOV PORTAL
Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall establish an online portal that allows units of local government to submit forms electronically to the Department. The online portal shall provide a tracking feature for the submission as well as a point of contact at the Department of Transportation.
SB2143 - VEH CD-TOWING
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires a commercial vehicle safety relocator to give at least one-hour notice to the owner of a vehicle located on private property prior to towing the vehicle. Prohibits a property owner, property manager, or government-owned property manager from enforcing a registration sticker violation for any vehicle located on the property and having the vehicle towed based on the registration sticker violation. Prohibits a property owner or property manager from having a vehicle towed or threatening to have a vehicle towed off the property if the owner of the vehicle is in the process of being evicted from the property. Provides that if a vehicle is a hazard to the community and requires immediate removal, then local law enforcement may impound the vehicle from the private property with the consent of the property owner. Requires, within 72 hours of a vehicle being towed, a commercial vehicle safety relocator to provide the vehicle owner with a statement that provides clear evidence of the violation for which the vehicle was towed. Requires every vehicle used by a commercial vehicle safety relocator to be owned or leased directly by the commercial vehicle safety relocator, and every such vehicle must display the same signage displayed at the property of the commercial vehicle safety relocator's impound lot. Requires every commercial vehicle safety relocator to display a copy of the amendatory Act at all of its impound lots. Requires a commercial vehicle safety relocator to update its contracts with property owners every 12 months. Provides that a commercial vehicle safety relocator that violates the provisions shall be fined $500 for each violation. Applies the provisions only to towing vehicles located on private property.
SB2189 - QUICK-TAKE WILL COUNTY
Amends the Eminent Domain Act. Provides that quick-take powers may be used for a period of no more than 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act by Will County for the acquisition of certain described property for the purpose of road construction. Repeals the new provisions 3 years after the effective date. Effective immediately.
SB2352 - PEOPLE OVER PARKING ACT
Creates the People Over Parking Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, a unit of local government may not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirements on a development project if the project is located within one-half mile of a public transportation hub. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective June 1, 2025.
SB2486 - CLEAN&EQUITABLE TRANSPORTATION
Creates the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act, and establishes the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Division and the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Regional Transportation Authority are consolidated into the Metropolitan Mobility Authority and the Service Boards are abolished, instead creating the Suburban Bus Operating Division, Commuter Rail Operating Division, and the Chicago Transit Operating Division. Reinserts, reorganizes, and changes some provisions from the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act into the new Act and repeals those Acts. Includes provisions about the operation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Creates the Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act. Establishes the Office of Transit-Oriented Development. Provides that the Office and the Fund are to aid transit-supportive development near high-quality transit by providing specified funding to municipalities that have adopted the standards in the transit support overlay district for that area or that have adopted zoning and other changes that the Office determines have benefits greater than or equal to such a District, including transit support overlay districts. Includes provisions relating to Office standards, procedures, and reports. Creates the Zero-Emission Vehicle Act. Provides that all on-road vehicles purchased or leased by a governmental unit on or after January 1, 2029 must be a manufactured zero-emission vehicle, repowered zero-emission vehicle, manufactured near zero-emission vehicle, or repowered near zero-emission vehicle. Provides that on and after January 1, 2034, all on-road vehicles purchased or leased by a governmental unit must be a manufactured zero-emission vehicle or repowered zero-emission vehicle. Provides that, by January 1, 2049, all on-road vehicles operated by a governmental unit must be a manufactured or repowered zero-emission vehicle. Sets forth provisions implementing the Act, including requiring the Department of Central Management Services to adopt certain rules. Amends various Acts, Laws, and Codes to make conforming changes for the new Acts and to make other changes. Provides that some provisions are effective immediately.
SR0059 - CASEY/ALMOND RD. LAKE COUNTY
Urges the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to take immediate action and work with stakeholders to identify and implement a solution that will reduce the speed and amount of traffic and potential for additional fatal accidents on Casey and Almond Roads in central Lake County.