Transportation

Amends the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Illinois State Police (rather than the Department of Transportation) shall administer and enforce the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes related changes. Sets forth provisions concerning personnel and material transfers and requires transferred personnel to receive a background check and any additional screening requirements established by the Department. Makes conforming changes to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulation Act. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the Highway Work Zone Safety Act. Requires the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Illinois State Police, to establish the Highway Work Zone Speed Control Program for the purposes of enforcing the speed limits established for construction or maintenance speed zones. Requires the Illinois State Police, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, to set up and operate automated traffic control systems in highway construction and maintenance speed zones to detect violations of posted work zone speed limits. Allows the Department of Transportation or the Illinois State Police to employ automated traffic control system operators to operate automated traffic control systems in construction or maintenance speed zones. Provides, with exceptions, that information and photographs or recorded images collected under the Program are not discoverable by court order as evidence in a proceeding. Requires information and photographs or recorded images collected under the Program to be destroyed not later than 2 years after the date the information and photographs or recorded images are collected. Provides that information and photographs or recorded images collected under the Program are the exclusive property of the State and not the property of the manufacturer or vendor of the automated traffic control system. Prohibits the use of a photograph or recorded image obtained through the use of an automated traffic control system for the purpose of enforcing a traffic offense. Provides that a person who owns a motor vehicle that is identified by an automated traffic control system as operating in a construction or maintenance speed zone at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit commits a civil law violation that is punishable by a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $200. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Transportation to implement and administer the Act. Makes other changes. Makes corresponding changes in the Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals the Automated Traffic Control Systems in Highway Construction or Maintenance Zones Act. Effective January 1, 2027, except provisions regarding procurement and rulemaking are effective immediately.

States that any transportation legislative package considered by the Illinois General Assembly should include complete consideration of the needs of the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) community, including, but not limited to, accessibility, affordability, availability of transportation options, and the needs of providers who support individuals with ID/DD. Urges State agencies, regional planning organizations, and transportation providers to prioritize accessibility, stakeholder engagement, and equitable investment in transportation infrastructure to better serve individuals with ID/DD.

Amends the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. Removes motor driven cycle and moped from the definition of "cycle". Defines "Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider" and "Provider" as a for-profit or nonprofit business, community agency, community organization, community college, or State university that is capable of providing courses. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall put out notices to the public seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers to provide courses in the State, and that such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver's license and who have reached their 16th birthday before the first day of the course to be held. Allows providers to charge a nominal registration fee set by the Department. Provides that responses from potential providers shall include the location where classes are to be held at, the number of students they intend to train, whether they would be providing motorcycles or using motorcycles owned by the Department, and the cost for courses provided on a per student basis. Provides that contracts shall be awarded by the Department to providers based on training needs and cost effectiveness of each bid or proposal. Provides that a provider shall only be paid grant funds under one of the following conditions: a course was held; expenses submitted related to the maintenance of department owned equipment; or submitting other non-personnel expenses. Provides that a provider awarded a contract with grant funding shall: submit proof that each instructor employed by the provider meets the qualifications to teach the curriculum for the courses; have at least one employee on staff certified to do quality assurance or quality control visits where instructors are evaluated per curriculum standards on teaching; perform at least one quality assurance or quality control visit on each instructor employed during the year and submit the results of those visits to the Department; maintain appropriate liability insurance to cover training activities; submit requests for payment in a timely manner; and adhere to additional program rules and regulations. Prohibits a provider awarded a contract with grant funding from adopting any policy, requirement, or expectation regarding employee's manner of dress outside of the employee's scheduled work hours. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.