Senior Drivers Bill Championed by DeWitte Signed into Law
I am thrilled to announce that legislation I’ve been working on for two years that ends a discriminatory and antiquated driving test requirement for seniors has been signed into law.
House Bill 1226 eliminates the automatic behind-the-wheel driving test rule for drivers aged 79-87 in Illinois. Currently, drivers aged 79 and 80 must take a driving test whenever their four-year license is due for renewal. For drivers aged 81-86, they must retake the driving test every two years, and after the age of 87, driving tests are required annually.
I, along with State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) were the Chief Sponsors of the original legislation to end the discriminatory practice last year, and this year, we partnered with Democrat colleagues to expand bipartisan support for the measure and get nearly identical legislation across the finish line.
The photo above was taken earlier this year, when Rep. Keicher and I stood with Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and additional bill sponsors to launch HB 1226.
The provisions of HB 1226 would bring Illinois’ driving laws in line with senior driving regulations in other states. It includes the following provisions:
- Drivers aged 79 and 80 would still be required to visit a DMV facility if they need to renew their driver’s license and take a vision test (and a written test if they have a driving violation on their record) but would not have to take a behind-the-wheel test.
- Drivers between the ages of 81-86 would still be required to visit a DMV facility to renew their license every two years and would have to take a vision test (and a written test if they have a driving violation on their record) but would not have to take a behind-the-wheel test.
- Rules for drivers aged 87 and older would remain the same, with a behind-the-wheel driving test and vision test required annually.
A key provision of the new law allows family members to file a request with the Secretary of State’s office that their loved one still take a behind-the-wheel test. By passing this bill, we are removing an unnecessary burden from millions of motorists who have spotless driving records. The provisions of the bill take effect on July 1, 2026.
Seven Bills Sponsored by DeWitte Signed into Law
This is the time of year when the Governor signs bills that passed through both chambers of the General Assembly, and I’m pleased to announce that seven bills for which I served as the Chief Sponsor were recently signed into law:
Senate Bill 224: Clarifies responsibilities for permitting the installation of fire hydrants. The need for this legislation came about because of work stoppages on construction projects in northern Illinois because the Illinois Department of Public Health was shutting down construction projects because they were concerned with the location of the fire hydrants and wanted them moved to other locations.
As you can imagine, the time to determine the location of a fire hydrant is during the planning phase and not during construction. My deepest thanks goes out to the Metro West Council of Government for their work on this bill and their coordination with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Public Health, the State Fire Marshal, and the Illinois Section American Water Works Association.
An identical bill filed in the House, House Bill 3141, was also signed into law and I served as the Chief Senate Sponsor of that bill.
Senate Bill 1249: Permits out-of-state firefighters who possess the appropriate driver’s licenses in their residing state the ability to operate an emergency vehicle within Illinois. The need for this legislation was brought to me by a local fire chief. Fire service is currently facing challenges with recruitment efforts, prompting an effort to adjust to attract high-quality talent. One significant obstacle that is encountered is the requirement for driving fire apparatus. These vehicles are large and heavy, necessitating a Class B license, as required by the Illinois Secretary of State. These special licenses are costly, so this new law will improve the available talent pool for these important first responder positions.
Senator Bill 1909: An initiative of the Kane County Department of Transportation, this new law allows for land acquisition for the proposed Randall Road at Hopps Road intersection realignment and eventual overpass over an existing set of train tracks that stops traffic regularly east-west along Randall Road just north of Stearns Road. Once complete, the project will improve capacity and safety along that stretch of road.
House Bill 1648: Amends the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Pension benefits provided under the Downstate Firefighter Article of the Illinois Pension Code cannot generally be transferred, assigned, or seized, except for court orders related to child support or spousal maintenance. This legislation allows for annuitants and disability beneficiaries to authorize monthly payments to a fire service-related association or for hospitalization insurance.
House Bill 1842: Closes an inadvertent loophole in municipal code enforcement, and ensures that administrative adjudications can lead to tangible compliance rather than just financial penalties. It ensures that, when a violation is found, the hearing officer can require corrective action rather than merely penalizing noncompliance in the hope that the violator will voluntarily remedy the issue.
House Bill 2442: Allows vehicles used by a local or county emergency management services agency to install and operate a traffic control signal preemption device to be used when responding to a bona fide emergency, and when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
ICASH/Unclaimed Property Event Coming to South Elgin on Tuesday
If you have a chance, please stop by my ICASH Unclaimed Property Event in South Elgin on Tuesday. Over the last year tens of thousands of dollars have been claimed by residents of the 33rd District. I’ll have a mobile team from the Illinois Treasurer’s office at the South Elgin branch of the Gail Borden Library District on August 19 from 10AM – 2PM. Come on by and see if some of the remaining $5 billion in the Treasurer’s vault belongs to you! Other upcoming events include:
- August 19: ICASH Unclaimed Property Event, Gail Borden Public Library District (South Elgin Branch), 127 S. McLean Blvd, South Elgin, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- September 4: Senior Fair in Carpentersville, Dundee Township Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave, Carpentersville, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- September 16: Senior Fair in St. Charles, St. Charles Park District Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Avenue, St. Charles, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- September 27: FREE Document Shredding Event, Carillon at Cambridge Lakes, 1865 Andrew Blvd, Pingree Grove, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- October 4: FREE Document Shredding Event, Elburn Town & Country Library, 320 E North Street, Elburn, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- October 14: Senior Fair in Crystal Lake, Grand Oaks Recreation Building 1401 IL-176, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
New events are added to the calendar regularly. You can remain up to date about upcoming events by visiting the Events page on my website.
Veterans Legislation Co-Sponsored by DeWitte Signed into Law
This year I was proud to co-sponsor and support several pieces of legislation that help our veterans. An important bill that will provide significant financial relief for veterans’ housing was signed into law on August 15.
Senate Bill 39 was brought forward by local veteran groups that build small homes for homeless veterans. Recently passed legislation in this state that mandates new construction include charging stations for electric vehicles was proving to be very costly for these projects. This new law helps homeless veterans, who do not own cars by lifting the requirement for EV charging stations for homeless veteran home construction projects. The provisions of the new law take effect immediately.
Governor Opens Potential Floodgate to Lawsuit Abuse
Governor JB Pritzker has now signed Senate Bill 328 into law, despite repeated warnings from Republicans, business leaders, and watchdog groups that the measure will hurt Illinois families, workers, and job creators. The new law allows anyone in the country to sue any business registered in Illinois, even if the dispute has no connection to the state.
Opponents warn that this expansion of legal jurisdiction will invite frivolous, out-of-state lawsuits that will clog Illinois courts, slow down justice for residents, and make companies think twice before investing within this state.
SB 328 cleared the General Assembly in the final hours of the spring legislative session after Democrats used a “gut and replace” tactic to bypass public scrutiny, a move Republican leaders argue violated the Illinois Constitution’s Three Readings Rule. Senate and House Republicans have filed a lawsuit challenging the law’s passage, vowing to continue the fight to protect Illinois families.
This law is a prime example of how special interests are being put ahead of the people of Illinois. The results of this new law will be higher costs, fewer jobs, and fewer opportunities for hardworking Illinois families.
Secretary of State Warns of Text Message Scam
Illinois residents are being warned to watch out for a phishing scam disguised as a message from the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles.
The scam, which has been circulating for several months, employs alarming language, such as “Final Notice” or references to “State Code 15c-16.003,” in an attempt to steal personal and financial information. Some messages claim that recipients owe traffic fines and face vehicle suspension or credit damage if they do not respond.
Residents should avoid clicking any links or providing information in response to these messages.
The Secretary of State’s office clarifies that it does not send text messages about driver’s license or vehicle registration status. Legitimate texts from the agency are limited to appointment reminders.
Suspicious messages should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.