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IllinoisSB1249104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

VEH CD-EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Sponsored By: Donald P. DeWitte (Republican)

Became Law

assignmentstransportationtransportation: vehicles & safety

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.

Age limits for paid and child transport

You must be 21 or older and have at least one year of driving to transport children to or from schools, day camps, summer camps, or nursery schools. The same age and experience rule applies to second‑division vehicles used to carry people for pay. No one under 18 can be licensed to transport property for hire or carry people for pay in a first‑division car. These limits have applied since January 1, 2015.

Rules for school and charter bus drivers

To drive a school bus or a school vehicle on a regular student route, you must have a valid school bus driver permit. Trainees may drive only with a supervisor who has held the permit for at least one year. If a bus is chartered only to carry students to school events, the driver must hold a valid, properly classified commercial driver’s license (CDL); qualifying out-of-state CDLs are accepted, and drivers with a CDL plus a school bus permit issued on or before December 31, 2003 are also allowed. This charter rule does not apply to public transit drivers running regular fare routes that are not specific school routes. These rules have applied since January 1, 2015.

Out-of-state emergency workers can drive here

Nonresidents who work as public safety workers can drive authorized emergency vehicles in Illinois. They must hold the license class their home state requires for similar equipment. This has applied since January 1, 2015.

Licenses for church and senior transport

To drive a religious organization’s bus, you must have a valid, properly classified driver’s license or a school bus driver permit. To drive seniors for an organization, you must have a valid, properly classified Illinois license. These rules have applied since January 1, 2015.

License classes, mopeds, and autocycles

Your Illinois license must show your license class. You may not drive a vehicle unless your license has the proper class; mopeds are the one exception and can be driven with any valid Illinois license. You must have a Class D license to operate an autocycle. These rules have applied since January 1, 2015.

Youth camp and child-care bus rules

If a bus meets school-bus standards and carries youth for a licensed camp or child care, the driver must have a valid school bus driver permit. Trainees may drive only while supervised by someone who held the permit for at least one year. A properly licensed driver may use a school‑standard bus for these trips if the SCHOOL BUS signs are covered and the stop arm and flashing lights cannot be used from normal controls. These rules have applied since January 1, 2015.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Donald P. DeWitte

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Dan Ugaste

    Republican • House

  • Li Arellano, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • Suzanne M. Ness

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 196 • No: 0

House vote • 5/21/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 110 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Transportation: Vehicles & Safety;

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 56 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/26/2025

Do Pass as Amended Transportation;

Yes: 18 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0087

    8/1/2025Senate

  2. Effective Date January 1, 2026

    8/1/2025Senate

  3. Governor Approved

    8/1/2025Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2025Senate

  5. Passed Both Houses

    5/21/2025Senate

  6. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-000-000

    5/21/2025House

  7. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

    5/20/2025House

  8. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    5/13/2025House

  9. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/13/2025House

  10. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    4/23/2025House

  11. Do Pass / Short Debate Transportation: Vehicles & Safety; 012-000-000

    4/23/2025House

  12. Assigned to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety

    4/17/2025House

  13. Referred to Rules Committee

    4/9/2025House

  14. First Reading

    4/9/2025House

  15. Chief House Sponsor Rep. Dan Ugaste

    4/9/2025House

  16. Arrived in House

    4/9/2025House

  17. Third Reading - Passed; 056-000-000

    4/9/2025Senate

  18. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading

    4/9/2025Senate

  19. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading **

    4/4/2025Senate

  20. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Li Arellano, Jr.

    4/2/2025Senate

  21. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 6, 2025

    3/5/2025Senate

  22. Second Reading

    3/5/2025Senate

  23. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 27, 2025

    2/26/2025Senate

  24. Do Pass as Amended Transportation; 018-000-000

    2/26/2025Senate

  25. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted

    2/25/2025Senate

Bill Text

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