Transportation

Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an employee of a township or road district with a population of less than 10,000 (rather than 3,000) operating a vehicle within the boundaries of the township or road district for the purpose of removing snow or ice from a roadway by plowing, sanding, or salting is waived from the requirements of provisions regarding commercial driver's licenses or permits when the employee is needed to operate the vehicle because the employee of the township or road district who ordinarily operates the vehicle and who has a commercial driver's license is unable to operate the vehicle or is in need of additional assistance due to a snow emergency.

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award grant money in the form of a voucher of $125,000 to a school district that submits a grant application to the State Board to be applied on the total purchase price of an electric school bus to effectively lower the purchase price of the electric school bus to the school district. Sets forth eligibility requirements for a school district to receive a grant. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications for grants towards the purchase of a electric school bus grant and applications shall be accepted on an annual basis. Provides that if the appropriation for grants under this Section for a given fiscal year is less than the amount required to fund all applications for grants, the State Board of Education shall give priority to school districts designated as Tier 1 or Tier 2 that do not have any electric school buses. Sets forth the application requirements. Allows the State Board of Education to adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of the provisions. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, if a graduated driver's license holder is convicted of violating provisions stating that a graduated driver's license holder who is under the age of 18 when he or she receives the license may not operate 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, then the graduated license shall be suspended for 6 months.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any person who drives or is in actual control of a motor vehicle upon the public highways of the State and who has been involved in a personal injury or fatal motor vehicle crash shall be deemed to have given consent to provide access to any electronic communication device that was in the motor vehicle and within that person's reach at the time of the accident for the purpose of determining whether the person was unlawfully using the device. Provides that a person requested to provide access to an electronic communication device shall be warned that a refusal to provide such access, or if the device's data shows a violation, may result in the suspension of such person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle, and if the person is also a CDL holder, he or she shall be warned that a refusal to provide access to an electronic communication device, or if the device's data shows a violation, may result in the disqualification of the person's privilege to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Provides that if the person refuses to provide access to the electronic communication device or provides such access and the device's data shows a violation, the law enforcement officer shall immediately submit a sworn report to the Secretary of State certifying that access to the electronic communication device was requested and the person refused or the device showed a violation. Provides that upon receipt of the sworn report of a law enforcement officer, the Secretary shall enter the suspension and disqualification to the individual's driving record and the suspension and disqualification shall be effective on the 46th day following the date notice of the suspension was given to the person. Allows a driver to contest the suspension of his or her driving privileges and disqualification of his or her CDL privileges by requesting an administrative hearing with the Secretary. Provides that in all cases involving a fatal motor vehicle crash where the person refuses to provide law enforcement with access to his or her electronic communication device or provides such access and the device's data shows a violation, the Secretary shall notify the local State's Attorney of the refusal or violation. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as Nancy's Law.

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.

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.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the use of red or white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights or blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on vehicles owned or operated by volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS providers, but only when responding to an emergency call or parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the emergency. Allows a vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter or volunteer EMS provider to be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, to be used only when responding to an emergency call.

Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that, for construction contracts with the Department of Transportation or the Capital Development Board (instead of the Department of Transportation only), the contractor, subcontractor, or material supplier, regardless of tier, shall not offset, decrease, or diminish payment or payments that are due to its subcontractors or material suppliers without reasonable cause.

Amends the Biometric Information Privacy Act. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to apply to companies registered with the Department of Transportation to conduct testing of autonomous vehicles.