HB1209eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1209 Engrossed LRB103 05939 HEP 50960 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 3-506, 3-802, and 3-806.3 and by adding Section 3-699.22 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-506)

Sec. 3-506. Transfer of plates to spouses of military service members. Upon the death of a military service member who has been issued a special plate under Section 3-609.1, 3-620, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-666, 3-667, 3-668, 3-669, 3-676, 3-677, 3-680, 3-681, 3-683, 3-686, 3-688, 3-693, 3-698, 3-699.12, 3-699.15, 3-699.16, 3-699.17, 3-699.19, or 3-699.20, or 3-699.22 of this Code, the surviving spouse of that service member may retain the plate so long as that spouse is a resident of Illinois and transfers the registration to his or her name within 180 days of the death of the service member.

For the purposes of this Section, "service member" means any individual who is serving or has served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard or other reserve components of the Armed Forces, and has been issued a special plate listed in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 101-51, eff. 7-12-19; 102-154, eff. 1-1-22.)

(625 ILCS 5/3-699.22 new)

Sec. 3-699.22. United States Space Force plates.

(a) In addition to any other special license plate, the Secretary, upon receipt of all applicable fees and applications made in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, may issue United States Space Force license plates to residents of this State who are serving or have served in the United States Space Force. The special United States Space Force plate issued under this Section shall be affixed only to passenger vehicles of the first division and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds.

(b) The design, color, and format of the plates shall be wholly within the discretion of the Secretary of State. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, allow the plates to be issued as vanity plates or personalized in accordance with Section 3-405.1 of this Code. The plates are not required to designate "Land of Lincoln", as prescribed in subsection (b) of Section 3-412 of this Code. The Secretary shall approve and prescribe stickers or decals as provided under Section 3-412.

(625 ILCS 5/3-802) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-802)

Sec. 3-802. Reclassifications and upgrades.

(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

"Reclassification" means changing the registration of a vehicle from one plate category to another.

"Upgrade" means increasing the registered weight of a vehicle within the same plate category.

(b) When reclassing the registration of a vehicle from one plate category to another, the owner shall receive credit for the unused portion of the present plate and be charged the current portion fees for the new plate. In addition, the appropriate replacement plate and replacement sticker fees shall be assessed.

(b-5) Beginning with the 2019 registration year, any individual who has a registration issued under either Section 3-405 or 3-405.1 that qualifies for a special license plate under Section 3-609, 3-609.1, 3-620, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-664, 3-666, 3-667, 3-668, 3-669, 3-676, 3-677, 3-680, 3-681, 3-683, 3-686, 3-688, 3-693, 3-698, 3-699.12, 3-699.15, 3-699.16, 3-699.17, 3-699.19, or 3-699.20, or 3-699.22 may reclass his or her registration upon acquiring a special license plate listed in this subsection (b-5) without a replacement plate or digital plate fee or registration sticker or digital registration sticker cost.

(b-10) Beginning with the 2019 registration year, any individual who has a special license plate issued under Section 3-609, 3-609.1, 3-620, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-664, 3-666, 3-667, 3-668, 3-669, 3-676, 3-677, 3-680, 3-681, 3-683, 3-686, 3-688, 3-693, 3-698, 3-699.12, or 3-699.17, or 3-699.22 may reclass his or her special license plate upon acquiring a new registration under Section 3-405 or 3-405.1 without a replacement plate or digital plate fee or registration sticker or digital registration sticker cost.

(c) When upgrading the weight of a registration within the same plate category, the owner shall pay the difference in current period fees between the 2 plates. In addition, the appropriate replacement plate and replacement sticker fees shall be assessed. In the event new plates are not required, the corrected registration card fee shall be assessed.

(d) In the event the owner of the vehicle desires to change the registered weight and change the plate category, the owner shall receive credit for the unused portion of the registration fee of the current plate and pay the current portion of the registration fee for the new plate, and in addition, pay the appropriate replacement plate and replacement sticker fees.

(e) Reclassing from one plate category to another plate category can be done only once within any registration period.

(f) No refunds shall be made in any of the circumstances found in subsection (b), subsection (c), or subsection (d); however, when reclassing from a flat weight plate to an apportioned plate, a refund may be issued if the credit amounts to an overpayment.

(g) In the event the registration of a vehicle registered under the mileage tax option is revoked, the owner shall be required to pay the annual registration fee in the new plate category and shall not receive any credit for the mileage plate fees.

(h) Certain special interest plates may be displayed on first division vehicles, second division vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less, and recreational vehicles. Those plates can be transferred within those vehicle groups.

(i) Plates displayed on second division vehicles weighing 8,000 pounds or less and passenger vehicle plates may be reclassed from one division to the other.

(j) Other than in subsection (i), reclassing from one division to the other division is prohibited. In addition, a reclass from a motor vehicle to a trailer or a trailer to a motor vehicle is prohibited.

(Source: P.A. 101-51, eff. 7-12-19; 101-395, eff. 8-16-19; 102-154, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(625 ILCS 5/3-806.3) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-806.3)

Sec. 3-806.3. Senior citizens. Commencing with the 2009 registration year, the registration fee paid by any vehicle owner who has been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act or who is the spouse of such a person shall be $10 instead of the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates or digital registration plates issued under Section 3-414.1, motor vehicles displaying special registration plates or digital registration plates issued under Section 3-609, 3-616, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-663, or 3-699.17, or 3-699.22, motor vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(a), and recreational vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(b). Widows and widowers of claimants shall also be entitled to this reduced registration fee for the registration year in which the claimant was eligible.

Commencing with the 2009 registration year, the registration fee paid by any vehicle owner who has claimed and received a grant under the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act or who is the spouse of such a person shall be $10 instead of the fee otherwise provided in this Code for passenger cars displaying standard multi-year registration plates or digital registration plates issued under Section 3-414.1, motor vehicles displaying special registration plates or digital registration plates issued under Section 3-607, 3-609, 3-616, 3-621, 3-622, 3-623, 3-624, 3-625, 3-626, 3-628, 3-638, 3-642, 3-645, 3-647, 3-650, 3-651, 3-663, 3-664, or 3-699.17, or 3-699.22, motor vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(a), and recreational vehicles registered at 8,000 pounds or less under Section 3-815(b). Widows and widowers of claimants shall also be entitled to this reduced registration fee for the registration year in which the claimant was eligible.

Commencing with the 2017 registration year, the reduced fee under this Section shall apply to any special registration plate or digital registration plate authorized in Article VI of Chapter 3 of this Code for which the applicant would otherwise be eligible.

Surcharges for vehicle registrations under Section 3-806 of this Code shall not be collected from any vehicle owner who has been approved for benefits under the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief Act or a person who is the spouse of such a person.

No more than one reduced registration fee under this Section shall be allowed during any 12-month period based on the primary eligibility of any individual, whether such reduced registration fee is allowed to the individual or to the spouse, widow or widower of such individual. This Section does not apply to the fee paid in addition to the registration fee for motor vehicles displaying vanity, personalized, or special license plates.

(Source: P.A. 101-51, eff. 7-12-19; 101-395, eff. 8-16-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-807, eff. 1-1-23.)