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