Illinois 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB1821 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/28/2025

                    104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB1821 Introduced , by Rep. Barbara Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508225 ILCS 440/8.1 new225 ILCS 440/8.2 new225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01 Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules specifying the standards for registration of certain signs under the Act. Adds the failure of the Department to act upon any permit within the designated time limit under the Act or the rules adopted by the Department to reasons a person can appeal a decision by the Department. Provides that a hearing for an appeal shall commence within 30 days after the receipt of the appeal request. Adds requirements for a hearing conducted under the Act and requires an administrative law judge to present a written proposal that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for a final decision to the Secretary of Transportation within 30 days after conclusion of a hearing. Adopts and incorporates the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules regarding the implementation and enforcement of the Act (rather than permits the Department to establish rules and regulations). Effective immediately. LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB1821 Introduced , by Rep. Barbara Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:  225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508225 ILCS 440/8.1 new225 ILCS 440/8.2 new225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01 225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508 225 ILCS 440/8.1 new  225 ILCS 440/8.2 new  225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01 Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules specifying the standards for registration of certain signs under the Act. Adds the failure of the Department to act upon any permit within the designated time limit under the Act or the rules adopted by the Department to reasons a person can appeal a decision by the Department. Provides that a hearing for an appeal shall commence within 30 days after the receipt of the appeal request. Adds requirements for a hearing conducted under the Act and requires an administrative law judge to present a written proposal that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for a final decision to the Secretary of Transportation within 30 days after conclusion of a hearing. Adopts and incorporates the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules regarding the implementation and enforcement of the Act (rather than permits the Department to establish rules and regulations). Effective immediately.  LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b     LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB1821 Introduced , by Rep. Barbara Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508225 ILCS 440/8.1 new225 ILCS 440/8.2 new225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01 225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508 225 ILCS 440/8.1 new  225 ILCS 440/8.2 new  225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01
225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508
225 ILCS 440/8.1 new
225 ILCS 440/8.2 new
225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01
Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules specifying the standards for registration of certain signs under the Act. Adds the failure of the Department to act upon any permit within the designated time limit under the Act or the rules adopted by the Department to reasons a person can appeal a decision by the Department. Provides that a hearing for an appeal shall commence within 30 days after the receipt of the appeal request. Adds requirements for a hearing conducted under the Act and requires an administrative law judge to present a written proposal that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for a final decision to the Secretary of Transportation within 30 days after conclusion of a hearing. Adopts and incorporates the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules regarding the implementation and enforcement of the Act (rather than permits the Department to establish rules and regulations). Effective immediately.
LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b     LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
    LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
A BILL FOR
HB1821LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821  LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821  LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  AN ACT concerning regulation.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971 is
5  amended by changing Sections 8 and 14.01 and by adding
6  Sections 8.1 and 8.2 as follows:
7  (225 ILCS 440/8) (from Ch. 121, par. 508)
8  Sec. 8. Within 90 days of July 1, 1972, or the owner being
9  notified of a new controlled route subject to this Act being
10  added, each sign, except signs described by Sections 4.01,
11  4.02, and 4.03, must be registered with the Department by the
12  owner of the sign, on forms obtained from the Department.
13  Within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act
14  of 1975, each sign located beyond 660 feet of the right-of-way
15  located outside of urban areas, visible from the main-traveled
16  way of the highway and erected with the purpose of the message
17  being read from such traveled way, must be registered with the
18  Department by the owner of the sign on forms obtained from the
19  Department. The Department shall adopt rules specifying the
20  standards for such registration, which may require reasonable
21  information to be furnished including the name of the owner of
22  the land on which the sign is located and a statement that the
23  owner has consented to the erection or maintenance of the

 

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB1821 Introduced , by Rep. Barbara Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508225 ILCS 440/8.1 new225 ILCS 440/8.2 new225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01 225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508 225 ILCS 440/8.1 new  225 ILCS 440/8.2 new  225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01
225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508
225 ILCS 440/8.1 new
225 ILCS 440/8.2 new
225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01
Amends the Highway Advertising Control Act of 1971. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall adopt rules specifying the standards for registration of certain signs under the Act. Adds the failure of the Department to act upon any permit within the designated time limit under the Act or the rules adopted by the Department to reasons a person can appeal a decision by the Department. Provides that a hearing for an appeal shall commence within 30 days after the receipt of the appeal request. Adds requirements for a hearing conducted under the Act and requires an administrative law judge to present a written proposal that contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for a final decision to the Secretary of Transportation within 30 days after conclusion of a hearing. Adopts and incorporates the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Requires the Department to adopt rules regarding the implementation and enforcement of the Act (rather than permits the Department to establish rules and regulations). Effective immediately.
LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b     LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
    LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
A BILL FOR

 

 

225 ILCS 440/8 from Ch. 121, par. 508
225 ILCS 440/8.1 new
225 ILCS 440/8.2 new
225 ILCS 440/14.01 from Ch. 121, par. 514.01



    LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b

 

 



 

  HB1821  LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b


HB1821- 2 -LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821 - 2 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821 - 2 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  sign. Registration must be made of each sign and shall be
2  accompanied by a registration fee of $5.
3  No sign, except signs described by Sections 4.01, 4.02,
4  and 4.03, may be erected after the effective date of this Act
5  without first obtaining a permit from the Department. The
6  application for permit shall be on a form provided by the
7  Department and shall contain such information as the
8  Department may reasonably require. Upon receipt of an
9  application and upon payment of the fee required under this
10  Section, the Department then issues a permit to the applicant
11  for the erection of the sign, provided such sign will not
12  violate any provision of this Act. The Department shall have
13  up to 45 days to complete its review and approve the permit
14  application or notify the applicant of any and all
15  deficiencies necessary for the Department's approval. The
16  applicant shall then have 45 days to correct the noted
17  deficiencies, and the Department shall have 30 days from
18  receipt of the notice of corrected deficiencies to make a
19  final determination. If the application for permit has been
20  denied, written notice of the decision shall state in detail
21  why the application was denied. The application fee shall be
22  as follows:
23  (1) for signs of less than 150 square feet, $50;
24  (2) for signs of at least 150 but less than 300 square
25  feet, $100; and
26  (3) for signs of 300 or more square feet, $200.

 

 

  HB1821 - 2 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b


HB1821- 3 -LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821 - 3 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821 - 3 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  If a permit application is for a sign within an area
2  subject to the Airport Zoning Act, the Department shall notify
3  the applicant in writing that the review process will exceed
4  the timelines set forth in the Section. Notwithstanding, the
5  Department shall complete its own review of the permit
6  application pending approval under the Airport Zoning Act.
7  In determining the appropriateness of issuing a permit for
8  a municipal network sign, the Department shall waive any
9  provision or requirement of this Act or administrative rule
10  adopted under the authority of this Act to the extent that the
11  waiver does not contravene the federal Highway Beautification
12  Act of 1965, 23 U.S.C. 131, and the regulations promulgated
13  under that Act by the Secretary of the United States
14  Department of Transportation. Any municipal network sign
15  applications pending on May 1, 2013 that are not affected by
16  compliance with the federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965
17  shall be issued within 10 days after the effective date of this
18  amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly. The determination
19  of the balance of pending municipal network sign applications
20  and issuance of approved permits shall be completed within 30
21  days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
22  98th General Assembly. To the extent that the Secretary of the
23  United States Department of Transportation or any court finds
24  any permit granted pursuant to such a waiver to be
25  inconsistent with or preempted by the federal Highway
26  Beautification Act of 1965, 23 U.S.C. 131, and the regulations

 

 

  HB1821 - 3 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b


HB1821- 4 -LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821 - 4 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821 - 4 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  promulgated under that Act, that permit shall be void.
2  Upon change of ownership of a sign permit or sign
3  registration, the new owner of the sign permit or sign
4  registration shall notify the Department to confirm the change
5  of ownership and supply the necessary information in writing
6  or on a form provided by the Department to transfer the permit
7  or registration for such sign at no cost within 120 days after
8  the change of ownership. The Department shall acknowledge to
9  the new sign owner, in writing or by electronic communication,
10  the receipt of such request within 14 calendar days after
11  receiving the necessary information and shall record the
12  transferee as the new owner. Failure of the new sign owner to
13  submit the necessary information to transfer the name of sign
14  ownership on a sign permit within 120 calendar days may
15  subject the permit to revocation. The Department shall issue a
16  notice to the sign owner of failure to notify and inform the
17  transferee of ownership that the transferee has 30 calendar
18  days from receipt of notice to provide the necessary
19  information required for the transfer of ownership.
20  Owners of registered signs shall be issued an identifying
21  tag, which must remain securely affixed to the front face of
22  the sign or sign structure in a conspicuous position by the
23  owner within 60 days after receipt of the tag; owners of signs
24  erected by permit shall be issued an identifying tag which
25  must remain securely affixed to the front face of the sign or
26  sign structure in a conspicuous position by the owner upon

 

 

  HB1821 - 4 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b


HB1821- 5 -LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821 - 5 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821 - 5 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  completion of the sign erection or within 10 days after
2  receipt of the tag, whichever is the later.
3  When a sign owner intends to upgrade an existing legal
4  permitted sign to a multiple message sign with a digital
5  display, the Department shall not require a new sign permit. A
6  permit addendum application requesting authorization for the
7  upgrade shall be made on a form provided by the Department and
8  shall be accompanied by a $200 fee, which shall not be subject
9  to return upon rejection of the permit addendum application.
10  As part of the permit addendum application, the Department
11  shall not require a new land survey or other documentation
12  that has previously been submitted and approved and is on file
13  for the existing permit of the legal permitted sign. Upon
14  receipt of the permit addendum application, the Department
15  shall have up to 30 days to complete its initial review and
16  either approve the addendum to the existing permit or notify
17  the applicant of any and all deficiencies necessary for the
18  Department's approval. The applicant shall have 30 days to
19  correct the noted deficiencies, upon which the Department
20  shall have 30 days after receipt of the notice of corrected
21  deficiencies to make a final determination. If the permit
22  application addendum is denied, written notice of the decision
23  shall state in detail why the application was denied. For
24  purposes of this Section, legal nonconforming sign structures
25  are not eligible for this upgrade.
26  A person aggrieved by any action of the Department in

 

 

  HB1821 - 5 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b


HB1821- 6 -LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821 - 6 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821 - 6 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  denying an application, or revoking a permit or registration,
2  or failing to act upon any permit within the designated time
3  limit under this Act or the rules adopted by the Department may
4  appeal such action to the Department. The appeal shall be
5  filed under this Act may, within 30 days after receipt of the
6  notice of denial or revocation or 30 days after the expiration
7  of any deadline for action by the Department. A hearing for
8  appeal shall commence within 30 days after the receipt of the
9  appeal request. , apply to the Department for an administrative
10  hearing pursuant to the Administrative Review Law.
11  (Source: P.A. 103-471, eff. 8-4-23.)
12  (225 ILCS 440/8.1 new)
13  Sec. 8.1. Hearing; findings and recommendations.
14  (a) All hearings under this Act shall be conducted by an
15  administrative law judge, appointed by the Secretary, who
16  shall hear evidence relating to an application, a denial of a
17  permit, a revocation of a permit, or other determinations by
18  the Department as authorized in this Act. Within 30 days after
19  the conclusion of the hearing, the administrative law judge
20  shall present to the Secretary a written proposal that
21  contains findings of fact, conclusions of law, and
22  recommendations for a final decision by the Secretary.
23  (b) A copy of the proposal shall be served upon the
24  applicant or licensee by the Department, in accordance with
25  the notice provisions in rules adopted by the Department

 

 

  HB1821 - 6 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b


HB1821- 7 -LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821 - 7 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821 - 7 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  pursuant to Section 14.01. The applicant or licensee may
2  present a response to the proposal to the Department no later
3  than 14 calendar days after service. Once 14 calendar days
4  after service have elapsed, the Secretary may enter a
5  decision, supported by law and the record, on the proposal. If
6  the Secretary disagrees with the proposal, the Secretary may
7  issue an order contrary to the proposal that includes specific
8  findings of fact supported by the record.
9  (c) The Secretary shall issue a decision on the proposal
10  no later than 45 days after the submission of the proposal by
11  the administrative law judge. The time limits in this Section
12  are mandatory and shall not be interpreted to be directory or
13  discretionary. The decision of the Secretary is a final
14  administrative decision within the Department's administrative
15  appeals process. Once the Secretary issues a decision pursuant
16  to this Section, there is no further ability to appeal or a
17  right for reconsideration within the Department.
18  (d) All proceedings under this Section are matters of
19  public record and shall be preserved.
20  (225 ILCS 440/8.2 new)
21  Sec. 8.2. Administrative review. All final administrative
22  decisions of the Department are subject to judicial review
23  pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law
24  and all rules adopted under the Administrative Review Law. The
25  term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101

 

 

  HB1821 - 7 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b


HB1821- 8 -LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b   HB1821 - 8 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
  HB1821 - 8 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b
1  of the Code of Civil Procedure.
2  Proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the
3  circuit court of the county in which the party applying for
4  review resides. If the party is not a resident of this State,
5  the venue shall be either Sangamon County or Cook County.
6  (225 ILCS 440/14.01) (from Ch. 121, par. 514.01)
7  Sec. 14.01. The Department shall adopt may establish rules
8  and regulations regarding implementation and enforcement of
9  this Act, which rules regulations are not inconsistent with
10  the terms of this Act; provided however, that the Department
11  shall may not add to, or increase the severity of the
12  regulatory standards set forth in Section 6 of this the Act, as
13  now or hereafter amended.
14  The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is hereby
15  expressly adopted and incorporated herein as if all of the
16  provisions of such Act were included in this Act. For the
17  purposes of this Act, the notice required under Section 10-25
18  of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is deemed
19  sufficient when mailed to the address of record of a party.
20  (Source: P.A. 79-1009.)

 

 

  HB1821 - 8 - LRB104 07314 AAS 17353 b