Transportation

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if a person causes a fatality while operating a motor vehicle and it is determined that the fatality was caused entirely by the medical condition of the person, the Secretary of State shall suspend the person's driver's license until the person provides medical documentation that the medical condition is being treated. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones provision applies to home rule municipalities contiguous to municipalities with a population of 1,000,000 or more inhabitants.

Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. In provisions concerning taxes collected in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties and paid directly to the counties, provides that the county board of each county shall use those amounts to fund operating and capital costs of, among other things, facilities of county law enforcement. Provides that the funds shall be divided equally among all entities. Deletes provisions requiring that the funding the counties receive under the provisions shall not be used as the basis for reducing any funds that the counties would otherwise have received from the State, the Regional Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Division, the Suburban Bus Division, or the Chicago Transit Authority. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an individual operating a bicycle approaching a stop sign may proceed through the intersection without stopping if the individual slows to a reasonable speed and the individual yields the right-of-way to pedestrians and traffic. Sets forth exemptions.

HB 4442 extends the expiration date for the High Speed Rail Commission Act from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2030. This bill directly affects the High Speed Rail Commission by allowing it to continue operating for an additional three years. The key provision is a simple date adjustment in the statute, with no new requirements or changes to the Commission's responsibilities. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment, as specified in the bill text.

Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercity passenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires the Department of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequencies into the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan. Authorizes the Department to nominate corridors for inclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program and enter into memoranda of understanding or other cooperative agreements for each identified interstate corridor to provide for shared data, joint investment prioritization, and aligned performance measures and planning schedules. Requires the Department to include a recurring section titled Progress Toward High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail within each update to the Illinois State Rail Plan and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. Requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization in the State to: (1) recognize the target intercity and long-distance passenger rail frequencies; (2) identify relevant rail corridors within or adjacent to the Metropolitan Planning Organization planning area; and (3) include a narrative discussion of how regional transportation investments can support achievement of those frequency targets. Requires the Department and each Metropolitan Planning Organization to consider progress toward the target passenger rail frequencies when developing project prioritization criteria for multimodal investments. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercity passenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires the Department of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequencies into the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan. Authorizes the Department to nominate corridors for inclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program and enter into memoranda of understanding or other cooperative agreements for each identified interstate corridor to provide for shared data, joint investment prioritization, and aligned performance measures and planning schedules. Requires the Department to include a recurring section titled Progress Toward High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail within each update to the Illinois State Rail Plan and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. Requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization in the State to: (1) recognize the target intercity and long-distance passenger rail frequencies; (2) identify relevant rail corridors within or adjacent to the Metropolitan Planning Organization planning area; and (3) include a narrative discussion of how regional transportation investments can support achievement of those frequency targets. Requires the Department and each Metropolitan Planning Organization to consider progress toward the target passenger rail frequencies when developing project prioritization criteria for multimodal investments. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle without obtaining a commercial driver's license or commercial learner's permit if the commercial motor vehicle weighs less than 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight rating and is equipped with hydraulic brakes, air brakes, or any other system that complies with the federal motor carrier vehicle safety standards.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Establishes the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture. Allows grants to be awarded from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury, for the installation of equipment for the storage and dispensing of fuels with higher blends of ethanol or biodiesel feedstock, according to the application and eligibility requirements established by rule by the Department of Agriculture. Requires the Comptroller and Treasurer to transfer, from June 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, $3,000,000 each calendar quarter from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund. Provides for eligibility for grant funding and eligible expenditures from the fund. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2027, a diesel powered vehicle owned or operated by the State, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency must use a biodiesel blend that contains 19%, unless the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel or on ultra low sulfur fuel. Allows, in December, January, February, and March, a biodiesel blend of at least 10% to be used. Effective immediately.