HB5625 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 20796 LNS 34314 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5625

Introduced 2/17/2026, by Rep. Chris Miller

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

605 ILCS 5/9-117	from Ch. 121, par. 9-117
625 ILCS 5/11-1303	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1303
820 ILCS 5/1.4

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a person who fells a tree for the purpose of obstructing a public highway in hindrance of official State or federal government duties commits a Class 4 felony. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person who violates provisions related to stopping, standing, or parking in prohibited places in hindrance of official State or federal government duties commits a Class 4 felony. Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Provides that for persons engaging in picketing, no sign, tent, or temporary shelter may be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with official State or federal government duties, and a person who violates the prohibition commits a Class 4 felony. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public rights-of-way.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Highway Code is amended by changing Section 9-117 as follows:

(605 ILCS 5/9-117) (from Ch. 121, par. 9-117)

Sec. 9-117. If any person injures or obstructs a public highway by felling a tree or trees in, upon or across the same, or by placing or leaving any other obstruction thereon, or encroaching upon the same with any fence, or by plowing or digging any ditch or other opening thereon, or by turning a current of water so as to saturate, wash or damage the same, or by plowing in or across or on the slopes of the side gutters or ditches, or by placing any material in such ditches, or in any way interfering with the free flow of water therein, or leaves the cuttings of any hedge thereon for more than 10 days, without the permission of the highway authority having jurisdiction over such highway, he shall be guilty of a petty offense and fined for every such offense not less than $50 nor more than $500; and in case of placing any obstruction on the highway, an additional sum of not exceeding $50 per day for every day he allows such obstruction to remain after he has been ordered to remove it by the highway authority having jurisdiction over such highway. Any person feeling himself aggrieved or any such highway authority may make a complaint under this Section.

The highway authority having jurisdiction over such highway, after having given 10 days' notice to the owners of the obstruction or person so obstructing, or plowing, or digging ditches upon such highway or interfering with the free flow of water in the side gutters or ditches, of the obstruction, plowing or digging of ditches, interfering with drainage, or of the encroachment of any fence, may remove any such fence or other obstruction, fill up any ditch or excavation except ditches necessary to the drainage of an adjoining farm emptying into a ditch upon the highway, or regrade such side gutters or ditches, and recover the necessary cost of such removal or filling of any such ditch or excavation, or regrading of such side gutters or ditches from such owner or other person obstructing or damaging such highway aforesaid, to be collected by the highway authority having jurisdiction of the highway whereon such offense was committed. Any such cost recovered shall be deposited in the road fund of the political division having jurisdiction over the highway adjudged to have been obstructed or injured, and shall be used only for maintenance or construction of public highways under the jurisdiction of that division.

The 10 day notice requirement of this Section is not required for any obstruction to traffic flow including non-adherence to the provisions of a permit issued by the highway authority having jurisdiction under Section 4-209, 5-413, or 9-113 of this Code.

However, this section shall not apply to any person who shall lawfully fell any tree for use and shall immediately remove the same out of the highway, nor to any person through or along whose land a public highway may pass, who shall desire to drain his land, and who shall give due notice to the proper highway authority of such intention, and who shall first secure from such highway authority written permission for any work, ditching or excavating he proposes to do within the limits of the highway.

A person who fells a tree under this Section for the purpose of obstructing a public highway in hindrance of official State or federal government duties commits a Class 4 felony.

(Source: P.A. 93-177, eff. 7-11-03.)

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 11-1303 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-1303) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1303)

Sec. 11-1303. Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places.

(a) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall:

1. Stop, stand or park a vehicle:

a. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;

b. On a sidewalk;

c. Within an intersection;

d. On a crosswalk;

e. Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by signs or markings;

f. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic;

g. Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel;

h. On any railroad tracks. A violation of any part of this subparagraph h. shall result in a mandatory fine of $500 or 50 hours of community service.

i. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping;

j. On any controlled-access highway;

k. In the area between roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers;

l. In a public parking area if the vehicle does not display a current annual registration sticker or digital registration sticker or current temporary permit pending registration.

2. Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge passengers:

a. In front of a public or private driveway;

b. Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;

c. Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;

d. Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway;

e. Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of such entrance (when properly sign-posted);

f. At any place where official signs prohibit standing.

3. Park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers:

a. Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;

b. At any place where official signs prohibit parking.

(b) No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as is unlawful.

(c) A person who violates this Section in hindrance of official State or federal government duties commits a Class 4 felony.

(Source: P.A. 101-395, eff. 8-16-19.)

Section 15. The Labor Dispute Act is amended by changing Section 1.4 as follows:

(820 ILCS 5/1.4)

Sec. 1.4. Use of public right of way.

(a) Persons engaged in picketing shall be allowed to use public rights of way to apprise the public of the existence of a dispute for the following:

(1) The purposes of picketing.

(2) The erection of temporary signs announcing their dispute.

(3) The parking of at least one vehicle on the public right of way. Nothing in this Section shall require the accommodation of parking more than 10 vehicles on the public right of way. This Section shall not be construed to allow the blocking of fire hydrants. Picketers shall ensure that water mains, sewers, and other utilities are accessible for construction, maintenance, and emergency repair work.

(4) The erection of tents or other temporary shelter for the health, welfare, personal safety, and well-being of picketers.

(b) Any signs, tents, or temporary shelters shall be removed at the end of each day when the picketing has ceased. Signs, tents, or temporary shelters may be maintained so long as individuals participating in the labor dispute are present.

(c) This Section shall not be construed to allow the erection of a tent or shelter or parking of a vehicle where there is insufficient space on the public right of way. This Section shall not be construed to allow the erection of a tent or shelter on the right of way of any Class I highway as defined in Section 1-126.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Picketers shall ensure that a reasonable walkway exists for pedestrians and others to pass by the picketing activities. Persons using the right of way under this Section shall make reasonable attempts to keep the area free from garbage and significant damage.

(d) No sign, tent, or temporary shelter may be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with an official traffic sign, signal, or device or to obstruct or physically interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic. The burden of proof shall rest on the unit of local government making such a claim. If a court determines that a sign, tent, or temporary shelter does not obscure or otherwise physically interfere with an official traffic sign, signal, or device or obstruct or physically interfere with a driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic, the unit of local government is liable for all costs and attorney's fees.

(d-5) No sign, tent, or temporary shelter may be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with official State or federal government duties. A person who violates this subsection commits a Class 4 felony.

(e) A person who, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding a picket or other demonstration or protest, places any object in the public way commits a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $500.

(Source: P.A. 103-45, eff. 1-1-24.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.