SB4058 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 20670 SPS 34169 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB4058

Introduced 2/18/2026, by Sen. Christopher Belt

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
815 ILCS 333/18

Creates the Municipal Assistance and Permit Review Reform Act. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, each State agency that requires authorization or environmental review of municipal construction or public works projects shall develop a web portal to be posted on the agency's website for the purpose of enhancing review and promoting timely issuance of permits required. Specifies the information an agency must make available on its web portal. Provides that, if an applicant submits a completed permit application to an agency for a covered project in accordance with all applicable State and federal law and there is no final action by the agency, then (1) the application is automatically approved after 180 days if notice and opportunity for public hearing are not required by State or federal law; and (2) the application is automatically approved after 270 days if notice and opportunity for public hearing are required by State or federal law. Amends the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. Removes language providing that a governmental agency of the State is not required to use or permit the use of electronic records or electronic signatures. Provides that the State Board of Elections is exempt from the requirement to accept electronic records and signatures. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Municipal Assistance and Permit Review Reform Act.

Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to improve the State's permit review and approval process by making it easier for municipalities to deal with State permitting requirements. This goal shall be achieved by providing prompt, accurate information about existing requirements, increasing the transparency and accessibility of permitting processes, and establishing a timeline regarding the determination of permits for covered projects.

Section 3. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Covered project" means any project in Illinois that involves the construction of infrastructure or public works by a municipality of Illinois and requires authorization or environmental review by a State agency.

"Electronic" has the meaning given to that term in Section 3-100 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

"Signature" has the meaning given to that term in Section 3-100 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

Section 5. State agency requirements.

(a) By January 1, 2027, each State agency that requires authorization or environmental review of municipal construction or public works projects shall develop a web portal to be posted on the agency's website for the purpose of enhancing review and promoting timely issuance of permits required and shall make the following information available on the web portal:

(1) Checklists and guidance relating to the completion of permit applications, which may include, but are not limited to, existing instructions for completing the applications and examples of complete applications. As the State agency or its subdivisions develop new checklists and develop guidance, they shall supplement the web portal with those materials.

(2) Permit application forms or portions of permit applications that can be completed and saved electronically, and submitted to the State agency or its subdivisions by electronic signature.

(b) If an applicant submits a completed permit application to a State agency for a covered project in accordance with all applicable State and federal law and there is no final action by the State agency, then:

(1) the application shall be automatically approved after 180 days if notice and opportunity for public hearing are not required by State or federal law; and

(2) the application shall be automatically approved after 270 days if notice and opportunity for public hearing are required by State or federal law.

Section 90. The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act is amended by changing Section 18 as follows:

(815 ILCS 333/18)

Sec. 18. Acceptance and distribution of electronic records by governmental agencies.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) Section 12(f), each governmental agency of this State shall determine whether, and the extent to which, it will send and accept electronic records and electronic signatures to and from other persons and otherwise create, generate, communicate, store, process, use, and rely upon electronic records and electronic signatures.

(b) The To the extent that a governmental agency uses electronic records and electronic signatures under subsection (a), the governmental agency, giving due consideration to security, may specify:

(1) the manner and format in which the electronic records must be created, generated, sent, communicated, received, and stored and the systems established for those purposes;

(2) if electronic records must be signed by electronic means, the type of electronic signature required, the manner and format in which the electronic signature must be affixed to the electronic record, and the identity of, or criteria that must be met by, any third party used by a person filing a document to facilitate the process;

(3) control processes and procedures as appropriate to ensure adequate preservation, disposition, integrity, security, confidentiality, and auditability of electronic records; and

(4) any other required attributes for electronic records which are specified for corresponding nonelectronic records or reasonably necessary under the circumstances.

(b-5) Pursuant to their rulemaking authority under other laws, the Secretary of State and the Department of Innovation and Technology may adopt rules setting forth their respective minimum requirements under subsection (b) of this Section. Any rules adopted by the Secretary of State under this subsection shall only apply with respect to the Secretary of State and any rules adopted by the Department of Innovation and Technology under this subsection shall only apply with respect to State agencies, departments, boards, and commissions under the jurisdiction of the Governor to which the Department of Innovation and Technology provides services.

(c) (Blank). Except as otherwise provided in Section 12(f), this Act does not require a governmental agency of this State to use or permit the use of electronic records or electronic signatures.

(d) The State Board of Elections is exempt from the requirement to accept electronic records and signatures.

(Source: P.A. 103-390, eff. 7-28-23; 104-195, eff. 1-1-26.)

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