SB3835 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 19641 BDA 34114 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3835

Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 805/805-70	was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.9
20 ILCS 805/805-420	was 20 ILCS 805/63a36
30 ILCS 105/8.25	from Ch. 127, par. 144.25
625 ILCS 5/2-119	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 2-119
625 ILCS 5/3-806	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-806
625 ILCS 5/3-815	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-815

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that Department has the power to expend moneys appropriated to the Department from the Park and Conservation Fund in the State treasury for furtherance of the Department's programs or for use by the Department for the Department's normal operations and for the construction and maintenance of State owned, leased, and managed sites (rather than the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department). Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the Park and Conservation Fund Account in the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund 1/12 of $10,000,000, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months, for any purposes (rather than Conservation and Park purposes) as enumerated in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law or for the same purposes as specified in any other State general obligation bond Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the moneys deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund shall be used as provided for in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (rather than for the development and acquisition of bike paths).

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Sections 805-70 and 805-420 as follows:

(20 ILCS 805/805-70) (was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.9)

Sec. 805-70. Grants and contracts.

(a) The Department has the power to accept, receive, expend, and administer, including by grant, agreement, or contract, those funds that are made available to the Department from the federal government and other public and private sources in the exercise of its statutory powers and duties.

(b) The Department may make grants to other State agencies, universities, not-for-profit organizations, and local governments, pursuant to an appropriation in the exercise of its statutory powers and duties.

(c) With the exception of Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development and Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, the Department may assess review and processing fees for grant program applications under the jurisdiction of the Department. The Department may, by rule, regulate the fees, methods, and programs to be charged. The income collected shall be deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund to be used by for the furtherance of the Department as provided for in Section 805-420 grant programs or for use by the Department for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department.

Except as otherwise provided, all revenue collected from the application fee for the State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund shall be deposited into the State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund.

Except as otherwise provided, all revenue collected from the application fee for the State Pheasant Fund shall be deposited into the State Pheasant Fund.

Except as otherwise provided, all revenue collected from the application fee for the Illinois Habitat Fund shall be deposited into the Illinois Habitat Fund.

Except as otherwise provided, all revenue collected from the application fee for the State Furbearer Fund shall be deposited into the State Furbearer Fund.

The monies deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund, the State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund, the State Pheasant Fund, the Illinois Habitat Fund, and the State Furbearer Fund under this Section shall not be subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless otherwise authorized by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13.)

(20 ILCS 805/805-420) (was 20 ILCS 805/63a36)

Sec. 805-420. Appropriations from Park and Conservation Fund. The Department has the power to expend monies appropriated to the Department from the Park and Conservation Fund in the State treasury for the furtherance of the Department's programs or for use by the Department for the Department's normal operations and for the construction and maintenance of State owned, leased, and managed sites conservation and park purposes.

Eighty percent of the revenue derived from fees paid for certificates of title, duplicate certificates of title and corrected certificates of title and deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund, as provided for in Section 2-119 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, shall be expended solely by the Department pursuant to an appropriation for acquisition, development, and maintenance of bike paths, including grants for the acquisition and development of bike paths and 20% of the revenue derived from fees shall be deposited into the Illinois Fisheries Management Fund, a special fund created in the State Treasury to be used for the operation of the Division of Fisheries within the Department.

Revenue derived from fees paid for the registration of motor vehicles of the first division and deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund, as provided for in Section 3-806 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, shall be expended by the Department for the following purposes:

(A) Fifty percent of funds derived from the vehicle registration fee shall be used by the Department for normal operations.

(B) Fifty percent of funds derived from the vehicle registration fee shall be used by the Department for construction and maintenance of State owned, leased, and managed sites.

The monies deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund and the Illinois Fisheries Management Fund under this Section shall not be subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless otherwise authorized by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13.)

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by changing Section 8.25 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/8.25) (from Ch. 127, par. 144.25)

Sec. 8.25. Build Illinois Fund; uses.

(A) All moneys in the Build Illinois Fund shall be transferred, appropriated, and used only for the purposes authorized by and subject to the limitations and conditions prescribed by this Section. There are established the following accounts in the Build Illinois Fund: the McCormick Place Account, the Build Illinois Bond Account, the Build Illinois Purposes Account, the Park and Conservation Fund Account, and the Tourism Advertising and Promotion Account. Amounts deposited into the Build Illinois Fund consisting of 1.55% before July 1, 1986, and 1.75% on and after July 1, 1986, of moneys received by the Department of Revenue under Section 9 of the Use Tax Act, Section 9 of the Service Use Tax Act, Section 9 of the Service Occupation Tax Act, and Section 3 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and all amounts deposited therein under Section 28 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, Section 4.05 of the Chicago World's Fair - 1992 Authority Act, and Sections 3 and 6 of the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax Act, shall be credited initially to the McCormick Place Account and all other amounts deposited into the Build Illinois Fund shall be credited initially to the Build Illinois Bond Account. Of the amounts initially so credited to the McCormick Place Account in each month, the amount that is to be transferred in that month to the Metropolitan Fair and Exposition Authority Improvement Bond Fund, as provided below, shall remain credited to the McCormick Place Account, and all amounts initially so credited in that month in excess thereof shall next be credited to the Build Illinois Bond Account. Of the amounts credited to the Build Illinois Bond Account in each month, the amount that is to be transferred in that month to the Build Illinois Bond Retirement and Interest Fund, as provided below, shall remain credited to the Build Illinois Bond Account, and all amounts so credited in each month in excess thereof shall next be credited monthly to the other accounts in the following order of priority: first, to the Build Illinois Purposes Account, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months; second, 1/12 of $10,000,000, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months, to the Park and Conservation Fund Account; and third, to the General Revenue Fund in the State Treasury all amounts that remain in the Build Illinois Fund on the last day of each month and are not credited to any account in that Fund.

Transfers from the McCormick Place Account in the Build Illinois Fund shall be made as follows:

Beginning with fiscal year 1985 and continuing for each fiscal year thereafter, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority shall annually certify to the State Comptroller and State Treasurer the amount necessary and required during the fiscal year with respect to which the certification is made to pay the debt service requirements (including amounts to be paid with respect to arrangements to provide additional security or liquidity) on all outstanding bonds and notes, including refunding bonds (herein collectively referred to as bonds) of issues in the aggregate amount (excluding the amount of any refunding bonds issued by that Authority after January 1, 1986) of not more than $312,500,000 issued after July 1, 1984, by that Authority for the purposes specified in Sections 10.1 and 13.1 of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act. In each month of the fiscal year in which there are bonds outstanding with respect to which the annual certification is made, the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the McCormick Place Account in the Build Illinois Fund to the Metropolitan Fair and Exposition Authority Improvement Bond Fund an amount equal to 150% of the certified amount for that fiscal year divided by the number of months during that fiscal year in which bonds of the Authority are outstanding, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months; provided, that the maximum amount that may be so transferred in fiscal year 1985 shall not exceed $15,000,000 or a lesser sum as is actually necessary and required to pay the debt service requirements for that fiscal year after giving effect to net operating revenues of that Authority available for that purpose as certified by that Authority, and provided further that the maximum amount that may be so transferred in fiscal year 1986 shall not exceed $30,000,000 and in each fiscal year thereafter shall not exceed $33,500,000 in any fiscal year or a lesser sum as is actually necessary and required to pay the debt service requirements for that fiscal year after giving effect to net operating revenues of that Authority available for that purpose as certified by that Authority.

When an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate amount of principal and interest in each fiscal year with respect to bonds issued after July 1, 1984, that by their terms are payable from the Metropolitan Fair and Exposition Authority Improvement Bond Fund, including under sinking fund requirements, has been so paid and deficiencies in reserves established from bond proceeds shall have been remedied, and at the time that those amounts have been transferred to the Authority as provided in Section 13.1 of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act, the remaining moneys, if any, deposited and to be deposited during each fiscal year to the Metropolitan Fair and Exposition Authority Improvement Bond Fund shall be transferred to the Metropolitan Fair and Exposition Authority Completion Note Subordinate Fund.

Transfers from the Build Illinois Bond Account in the Build Illinois Fund shall be made as follows:

Beginning with fiscal year 1986 and continuing for each fiscal year thereafter so long as limited obligation bonds of the State issued under the Build Illinois Bond Act remain outstanding, the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer in each month, commencing in October, 1985, on the last day of that month, from the Build Illinois Bond Account to the Build Illinois Bond Retirement and Interest Fund in the State Treasury the amount required to be so transferred in that month under Section 13 of the Build Illinois Bond Act.

As soon as may be practicable after the first day of each month beginning after July 1, 1984, the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the Park and Conservation Fund Account in the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund 1/12 of $10,000,000, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months, for any purpose conservation and park purposes as enumerated in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law (20 ILCS 805/805-420) or for the same purposes as specified in any other State general obligation bond Act enacted after November 1, 1984.

All funds remaining in the Build Illinois Fund on the last day of any month and not credited to any account in that Fund shall be transferred by the State Treasurer to the General Revenue Fund.

(B) For the purpose of this Section, "cumulative deficiency" shall include all deficiencies in those transfers that have occurred since July 1, 1984, as specified in subsection (A) of this Section.

(C) (Blank).

(D) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 103-616, eff. 7-1-24.)

Section 15. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 2-119, 3-806, and 3-815 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/2-119) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 2-119)

Sec. 2-119. Disposition of fees and taxes.

(a) All moneys received from Salvage Certificates shall be deposited in the Common School Fund in the State treasury.

(b) Of the money collected for each certificate of title, duplicate certificate of title, and corrected certificate of title:

(1) $2.60 shall be deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund;

(2) $0.65 shall be deposited in the Illinois Fisheries Management Fund;

(3) $48 shall be disbursed under subsection (g) of this Section;

(4) $4 shall be deposited into the Motor Vehicle License Plate Fund;

(5) $30 shall be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund; and

(6) $10 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special Services Fund.

All remaining moneys collected for certificates of title, and all moneys collected for filing of security interests, shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund.

The $20 collected for each delinquent vehicle registration renewal fee shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

The moneys deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund under this Section shall be used for the acquisition and development of bike paths as provided for in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. The moneys deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund under this subsection shall not be subject to administrative charges or chargebacks, unless otherwise authorized by this Code.

If the balance in the Motor Vehicle License Plate Fund exceeds $40,000,000 on the last day of a calendar month, then during the next calendar month, the $4 that otherwise would be deposited in that fund shall instead be deposited into the Road Fund.

(c) All moneys collected for that portion of a driver's license fee designated for driver education under Section 6-118 shall be placed in the Drivers Education Fund in the State treasury.

(d) Of the moneys collected as a registration fee for each motorcycle, motor driven cycle, and moped, 27% shall be deposited in the Cycle Rider Safety Training Fund.

(e) (Blank).

(f) Of the total money collected for a commercial learner's permit (CLP) or original or renewal issuance of a commercial driver's license (CDL) pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Driver's License Act (UCDLA): (i) $6 of the total fee for an original or renewal CDL, and $6 of the total CLP fee when such permit is issued to any person holding a valid Illinois driver's license, shall be paid into the CDLIS/AAMVAnet/NMVTIS Trust Fund and shall be used for the purposes provided in Section 6z-23 of the State Finance Act and (ii) $20 of the total fee for an original or renewal CDL or CLP shall be paid into the Motor Carrier Safety Inspection Fund, which is hereby created as a special fund in the State treasury, to be used by the Illinois State Police, subject to appropriation, to hire additional officers to conduct motor carrier safety inspections pursuant to Chapter 18b of this Code.

(g) Of the moneys received by the Secretary of State as registration fees or taxes, certificates of title, duplicate certificates of title, corrected certificates of title, or as payment of any other fee under this Code, when those moneys are not otherwise distributed by this Code, 37% shall be deposited into the State Construction Account Fund, and 63% shall be deposited in the Road Fund. Moneys in the Road Fund shall be used for the purposes provided in Section 8.3 of the State Finance Act.

(h) (Blank).

(i) (Blank).

(j) (Blank).

(k) There is created in the State treasury a special fund to be known as the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Money deposited into the Fund shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the Office of the Secretary of State (i) to help defray plate manufacturing and plate processing costs for the issuance and, when applicable, renewal of any new or existing registration plates authorized under this Code and (ii) for grants made by the Secretary of State to benefit Illinois Veterans Home libraries.

(l) The Motor Vehicle Review Board Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys deposited into the Fund under paragraph (7) of subsection (b) of Section 5-101 and Section 5-109 shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the Office of the Secretary of State to administer the Motor Vehicle Review Board, including, without limitation, payment of compensation and all necessary expenses incurred in administering the Motor Vehicle Review Board under the Motor Vehicle Franchise Act.

(m) Effective July 1, 1996, there is created in the State treasury a special fund to be known as the Family Responsibility Fund. Moneys deposited into the Fund shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the Office of the Secretary of State for the purpose of enforcing the Illinois Safety and Family Financial Responsibility Law.

(n) The Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys deposited into the Fund shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for construction of the Illinois Fire Fighters' Memorial to be located at the State Capitol grounds in Springfield, Illinois. Upon the completion of the Memorial, moneys in the Fund shall be used in accordance with Section 3-634.

(o) Of the money collected for each certificate of title for all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles, $17 shall be deposited into the Off-Highway Vehicle Trails Fund.

(p) For audits conducted on or after July 1, 2003 pursuant to Section 2-124(d) of this Code, 50% of the money collected as audit fees shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

(q) Beginning July 1, 2023, the additional fees imposed by Public Act 103-8 in Sections 2-123, 3-821, and 6-118 shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special Services Fund.

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 7-1-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 104-435, eff. 11-21-25.)

(625 ILCS 5/3-806) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-806)

Sec. 3-806. Registration Fees; Motor Vehicles of the First Division. Every owner of any other motor vehicle of the first division, except as provided in Sections 3-804, 3-804.01, 3-804.3, 3-805, 3-806.3, 3-806.7, and 3-808, and every second division vehicle weighing 8,000 pounds or less, shall pay the Secretary of State an annual registration fee at the following rates:

A $1 surcharge shall be collected in addition to the above fees for motor vehicles of the first division, autocycles, motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and pedalcycles to be deposited into the State Police Vehicle Fund.

All of the proceeds of the additional fees imposed by Public Act 96-34 shall be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund.

A $2 surcharge shall be collected in addition to the above fees for motor vehicles of the first division, autocycles, motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and pedalcycles to be deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund for the Department of Natural Resources to use as provided for in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois for conservation efforts. The monies deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund under this Section shall not be subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless otherwise authorized by this Act.

Of the fees collected for motor vehicles of the first division other than Autocycles, Motorcycles, Motor Driven Cycles, and Pedalcycles, $1 of the fees shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special Services Fund and $49 of the fees shall be deposited into the Road Fund.

(Source: P.A. 101-32, eff. 6-28-19.)

(625 ILCS 5/3-815) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-815)

Sec. 3-815. Flat weight tax; vehicles of the second division.

(a) Except as provided in Section 3-806.3 and 3-804.3, every owner of a vehicle of the second division registered under Section 3-813, and not registered under the mileage weight tax under Section 3-818, shall pay to the Secretary of State, for each registration year, for the use of the public highways, a flat weight tax at the rates set forth in the following table, the rates including the $10 registration fee:

SCHEDULE OF FLAT WEIGHT TAX

REQUIRED BY LAW

Beginning with the 2010 registration year a $1 surcharge shall be collected for vehicles registered in the 8,000 lbs. and less flat weight plate category above to be deposited into the State Police Vehicle Fund.

Beginning with the 2014 registration year, a $2 surcharge shall be collected in addition to the above fees for vehicles registered in the 8,000 lb. and less flat weight plate category as described in this subsection (a) to be deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund for the Department of Natural Resources to use as provided for in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois for conservation efforts. The monies deposited into the Park and Conservation Fund under this Section shall not be subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless otherwise authorized by this Act.

Of the fees collected under this subsection, $1 of the fees shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special Services Fund and $99 of the fees shall be deposited into the Road Fund.

All of the proceeds of the additional fees imposed by Public Act 96-34 shall be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund.

(a-1) A Special Hauling Vehicle is a vehicle or combination of vehicles of the second division registered under Section 3-813 transporting asphalt or concrete in the plastic state or a vehicle or combination of vehicles that are subject to the gross weight limitations in subsection (a) of Section 15-111 for which the owner of the vehicle or combination of vehicles has elected to pay, in addition to the registration fee in subsection (a), $125 to the Secretary of State for each registration year. The Secretary shall designate this class of vehicle as a Special Hauling Vehicle.

(a-5) Beginning January 1, 2015, upon the request of the vehicle owner, a $10 surcharge shall be collected in addition to the above fees for vehicles in the 12,000 lbs. and less flat weight plate categories as described in subsection (a) to be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. The $10 surcharge is to identify vehicles in the 12,000 lbs. and less flat weight plate categories as a covered farm vehicle. The $10 surcharge is an annual, flat fee that shall be based on an applicant's new or existing registration year for each vehicle in the 12,000 lbs. and less flat weight plate categories. A designation as a covered farm vehicle under this subsection (a-5) shall not alter a vehicle's registration as a registration in the 12,000 lbs. or less flat weight category. The Secretary shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this subsection (a-5).

(a-10) Beginning January 1, 2019, upon the request of the vehicle owner, the Secretary of State shall collect a $10 surcharge in addition to the fees for second division vehicles in the 8,000 lbs. and less flat weight plate category described in subsection (a) that are issued a registration plate under Article VI of this Chapter. The $10 surcharge shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. The $10 surcharge is to identify a vehicle in the 8,000 lbs. and less flat weight plate category as a covered farm vehicle. The $10 surcharge is an annual, flat fee that shall be based on an applicant's new or existing registration year for each vehicle in the 8,000 lbs. and less flat weight plate category. A designation as a covered farm vehicle under this subsection (a-10) shall not alter a vehicle's registration in the 8,000 lbs. or less flat weight category. The Secretary shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this subsection (a-10).

(b) Except as provided in Section 3-806.3, every camping trailer, motor home, mini motor home, travel trailer, truck camper or van camper used primarily for recreational purposes, and not used commercially, nor for hire, nor owned by a commercial business, may be registered for each registration year upon the filing of a proper application and the payment of a registration fee and highway use tax, according to the following table of fees:

MOTOR HOME, MINI MOTOR HOME, TRUCK CAMPER OR VAN CAMPER

CAMPING TRAILER OR TRAVEL TRAILER

Every house trailer must be registered under Section 3-819.

(c) Farm Truck. Any truck used exclusively for the owner's own agricultural, horticultural or livestock raising operations and not-for-hire only, or any truck used only in the transportation for-hire of seasonal, fresh, perishable fruit or vegetables from farm to the point of first processing, may be registered by the owner under this paragraph in lieu of registration under paragraph (a), upon filing of a proper application and the payment of the $10 registration fee and the highway use tax herein specified as follows:

SCHEDULE OF FEES AND TAXES

Of the fees collected under this subsection, $1 of the fees shall be deposited into the Secretary of State Special Services Fund and $99 of the fees shall be deposited into the Road Fund.

In the event the Secretary of State revokes a farm truck registration as authorized by law, the owner shall pay the flat weight tax due hereunder before operating such truck.

Any combination of vehicles having 5 axles, with a distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, that are subject to the weight limitations in subsection (a) of Section 15-111 for which the owner of the combination of vehicles has elected to pay, in addition to the registration fee in subsection (c), $125 to the Secretary of State for each registration year shall be designated by the Secretary as a Special Hauling Vehicle.

(d) The number of axles necessary to carry the maximum load provided shall be determined from Chapter 15 of this Code.

(e) An owner may only apply for and receive 5 farm truck registrations, and only 2 of those 5 vehicles shall exceed 59,500 gross weight in pounds per vehicle.

(f) Every person convicted of violating this Section by failure to pay the appropriate flat weight tax to the Secretary of State as set forth in the above tables shall be punished as provided for in Section 3-401.

(Source: P.A. 100-734, eff. 1-1-19; 100-956, eff. 1-1-19; 101-32, eff. 6-28-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)