Transportation

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a State entity to prohibit the use of low-speed electric bicycles or a specific class of low-speed electric bicycles on any bicycle path the State entity has jurisdiction over.

SB 3986 stops a scheduled July 1, 2026 increase to Illinois' motor fuel tax that would have been triggered by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This bill directly affects motor fuel retailers and consumers by preventing a tax hike that would have automatically occurred based on inflation. The key provision amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law to specifically exclude the July 1, 2026 CPI adjustment, effective immediately upon enactment. The change halts an automatic annual tax increase mechanism tied to inflation data.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. With regard to automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones, provides that "safety zone" does not include any roadway in which the 30 mile per hour speed limit is decreased by local ordinance without an engineering or traffic investigation. Provides that a local authority or park district shall determine and declare by ordinance a reasonable and safe absolute maximum speed which: decreases the limit within an urban district which shall not require an engineering or traffic investigation to a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour, but not less than 20 miles per hour and a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour in an alley; increases the limit within an urban district, but not to more than 55 miles per hour, if after increasing the limit within an urban district an engineering or traffic investigation is required to decrease the limit; or decreases the limit within a residence district which shall not require an engineering or traffic investigation to a maximum speed limit of 20 (rather than not to less than 25) miles per hour. Requires a park district, city, village, incorporated town, or county board to post a sign designating the new speed limit. Makes other changes.

Amends the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. Provides that any business registered as a motorcycle dealer with the Secretary of State or any other business that derives income from the selling of motorcycles or has motorcycles for sale at its place of business on a consignment basis is not eligible for grant funds or reimbursements. Makes conforming changes.

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. 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 Illinois Vehicle Code. Repeals a Section providing authority to use automated traffic law enforcement systems at intersections in which cameras are used to photograph or video record a motor vehicle's failure to stop and yield as required by traffic control signals. Imposes limits on the power of local governments to use automated speed enforcement systems to provide recorded images of a motor vehicle for the purpose of recording its speed. Denies home rule powers. Makes conforming and other changes. Amends the State Mandates Act. Requires implementation of the amendatory Act without reimbursement from the State. Makes a conforming change in the O'Hare Driver Safety Act.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles shall be inspected every 2 years on a schedule that begins in the sixth (rather than fourth) calendar year after the vehicle model year.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes the requirements that a non-highway vehicle is required to have a red reflectorized warning device in the front and a slow moving emblem on the rear. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. In provisions requiring the Secretary of State to immediately revoke the license, permit, or driving privileges of a driver upon receiving a report of the driver's conviction of certain offenses regulating the movement of traffic when that offense was the proximate cause of the death of a person, provides that the Secretary is not required to immediately revoke the license, permit, or driving privileges of the driver if the circuit court in which the conviction was entered makes a finding that the driver's retention of a license, a permit, or driving privileges does not endanger the public.