Transportation

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "leader-follower work zone vehicle" as a motor vehicle used in combination with another motor vehicle in a highway construction or maintenance zone that is: (1) equipped with an automated driving system; and (2) remotely connected to another motor vehicle allowing for coordinated or controlled movement within line of sight of the operator. Provides that the provision regarding following too closely does not apply to leader-follower work zone vehicles. Authorizes the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to implement the use of a leader-follower work zone vehicle in a highway construction or maintenance zone under their jurisdiction to create a safety system to protect their workers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Electric Vehicle Rebate Act. Authorizes rebates for electric vehicles that are electric motorcycles. Specifies that, for a purchaser to be eligible to receive a rebate under the Act, the purchaser must, among other things, apply for the rebate within 180 days (rather than 90 days) after purchase, during an open rebate cycle as identified by the Agency, and certify that the purchaser qualifies as low-income. Provides that amounts appropriated to and deposited into the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund from the General Revenue Fund, or any other fund, (rather than only the General Revenue Fund) shall be distributed from the Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund to fund the electric vehicle rebate program established under the Act. Makes changes to definitions. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines "leader-follower work zone vehicle" as a motor vehicle used in combination with another motor vehicle in a highway construction or maintenance zone that is: (1) equipped with an automated driving system; and (2) remotely connected to another motor vehicle allowing for coordinated or controlled movement within line of sight of the operator. Provides that the provision regarding following too closely does not apply to leader-follower work zone vehicles. Authorizes the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to implement the use of a leader-follower work zone vehicle in a highway construction or maintenance zone under their jurisdiction to create a safety system to protect their workers. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $250,000 to the Department of Transportation for expenses relating to the operations of the Ste. Genevieve – Modoc River Ferry. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall develop and implement a life-cycle costs analysis for each new construction, reconstruction, or replacement road project, except for State rehabilitation and preservation projects, under its jurisdiction for which the total pavement costs exceed $500,000. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the employee of the Aeronautics Division of the Department of Transportation who is a member of the advisory committee that determines which homes contain windows or doors that cause offensive odors and thus are eligible for replacement shall only cast a vote when breaking a tie. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that every crash report required to be made in writing must be electronically submitted to the Administrator using an electronic format approved by the Administrator (rather than made on an approved form or in an approved electronic format provided by the Administrator). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately, except that the changes made to the Illinois Vehicle Code are effective January 1, 2027.

Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act. In a provision setting forth the specified household income eligibility limits used to determine eligibility for reduced vehicle registration fees and free transit services, provides that the Department on Aging shall (rather than may) adopt rules such that on January 1, 2026, and thereafter, the specified household income eligibility limits shall be changed to reflect the annual cost of living adjustment in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In provisions concerning the prohibition of a graduated driver's license holder under the age of 18 from operating a motor vehicle with more than one passenger in the vehicle who is under the age of 20, unless any additional passenger or passengers are siblings, step-siblings, children, or stepchildren of the driver, provides that, if a graduated driver's license holder is convicted of a moving violation due to having more than one passenger in the license holder's vehicle who is under the age of 20, the graduated license shall be suspended for one month.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the Secretary of State to include information advising drivers of the laws and best practices for safely sharing the roadway with bicyclists and pedestrians in the Illinois Rules of the Road Publication. Provides that an applicant for a school bus driver permit or commercial driver's license with a school bus driver endorsement is not required to pass a written test if the applicant holds a valid commercial driver's license or a commercial driver's license that expired in the preceding 30 days issued by another state with a school bus and passenger endorsements. Requires all driver education courses to include information advising drivers of the laws and best practices for safely sharing the roadway with bicyclists and pedestrians. Provides that the examination to test an applicant's ability to read and understand official traffic control devices and knowledge of safe driving practices and traffic laws may be administered at a Secretary of State facility, remotely via the Internet, or in a manner otherwise specified by the Secretary of State by administrative rule. Allows the Secretary to destroy a driving record created 20 or more years ago for a person who was convicted of an offense and who did not have an Illinois driver's license if the record no longer contains any convictions or withdrawal of driving privileges due to the convictions. Provides that the application for an instructor for a driving school must be accompanied by a medical examination report completed by a competent medical examiner (rather than a competent physician). Provides that the restricted commercial driver's license issued for farm-related service industries may be available for periods not to exceed a total of 210 (rather than 180) days in any 12-month period. Removes some of the duration limitations for suspended licenses. Provides that the traffic-control signals also apply to bicyclists. Restricts a person from driving a motor vehicle on a bicycle lane, trail, or path designated by an official sign or marking for the exclusive use of bicycles or pedestrians. Makes other changes. Amends the School Code to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a traffic study following the occurrence of any crash involving a pedestrian fatality that occurs at an intersection of a federal or municipal highway.

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that the allowable direct cost of transporting pupils for regular, vocational, and special education pupil transportation shall be limited to, among other costs, expenditures to electrification-as-a-service contractors that provide electric school buses or a combination of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, equipment, or daily charge management services, plus a depreciation allowance of 8.33% for 12 years for electric school buses and vehicles approved for transporting pupils to and from school.