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HB 5369

ISP RADIO INTEROPERABILITY

104th Regular Session Introduced by Angie Guerrero-Cuellar

HB5369 formalizes statewide radio interoperability governance with SIEC oversight, sets statewide LMR standards by 2027, and requires ongoing legislative reviews for sustainability

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 103-000-000
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Bill Summary · HB 5369

HB5369 Summary (Illinois, 104th General Assembly)

Title
HB5369 – ISP Radio Interoperability

Purpose and intent
- Strengthen and standardize emergency communications interoperability across Illinois.
- Clarify and expand the governance, oversight, and standards-setting for land mobile radio (LMR) communications.
- Integrate coordination with 9-1-1 and statewide interoperability efforts, and set timelines for standards and ongoing legislative reviews.

Key provisions and changes
- Governance and oversight
- The Illinois Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) is the primary body overseeing governance, interoperability, and land mobile radio standards for Illinois’ LMR system.
- The SIEC collaborates with:
- Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator
- Office of the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator
- The Director of the Illinois State Police (or designee) chairs the SIEC and also serves as chair of the STARCOM21 Oversight Committee (STARCOM21 is Illinois’ statewide public safety communications system).
- The SIEC may designate subcommittees as needed.

  • Membership Requirements

    • Voting members include:
    • Statewide Interoperability Coordinator
    • Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator
    • Director of the Secretary of State Police (or designee)
    • At least one governor-appointed representative from each of the following groups:
      • Illinois fire chiefs association
      • Illinois fire protection districts association
      • Office of the State Fire Marshal
      • Illinois chiefs of police association
      • Illinois sheriffs association
      • Illinois State Police
      • Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security
      • Department of Public Health
      • Department of Innovation and Technology
      • Department of Military Affairs
    • The inclusion list is designed to ensure broad public safety representation across police, fire, EMS, public health, and state agencies.

  • STARCOM21 Oversight Committee

    • The bill reiterates or formalizes STARCOM21 Oversight Committee membership to include public safety users accessing the system and the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator.
    • Members serve without compensation and may meet in person or remotely.

  • Standards and timelines

    • By no later than July 1, 2027, the SIEC must establish:
    • Standards to ensure land mobile radio equipment interoperates statewide.
    • Planning, training, and evaluation standards to enhance public safety communications operational readiness.
    • Standards for unification of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) statewide.
    • The SIEC must review existing statutory law annually and recommend legislative changes to ensure efficient, effective, reliable, and sustainable statewide radio interoperability.
    • The bill removes prior emphasis on “better integration of IPAWS statewide” and instead focuses on statewide interoperability and sustainability funding planning.

  • Annual review and funding planning

    • The SIEC’s annual statutory-law review should result in recommendations for legislative changes to support statewide interoperable communications.
    • The bill originally included language about developing a plan to sustainably fund radio infrastructure, equipment, and interoperability statewide; the final drafting emphasizes ongoing legislative recommendations for sustainability rather than a standalone funding plan (but funding implications remain inherent in “sustainability” goals).

  • Administrative support

    • Illinois State Police provides administrative and other support to the SIEC and its subcommittees.

Effective date
- July 1, 2026.

Impact and who is affected
- Public safety agencies (police, fire, EMS) and related state departments will be governed by new or clarified interoperability standards.
- Local and regional public safety communications operators will benefit from standardized equipment interoperability, planning, training, and evaluation requirements.
- The act enhances collaborative governance among the ISP, 9-1-1, interoperability coordinators, and multiple state agencies.
- It affects procurement, deployment, training, and operational readiness for land mobile radio systems across Illinois.
- Legislative oversight will increasingly focus on ongoing statutory updates to maintain effective interoperability and sustainability.

Notes on status
- Introduced February 10, 2026, sponsored by Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (co-sponsor Angie Guerrero-Cuellar).
- Passed House on Third Reading (April 17, 2026) with amendments; effective date remains July 1, 2026, with standards timeline by July 1, 2027.

Overall assessment
- HB5369 codifies a more formal, multi-agency governance structure for statewide radio interoperability, establishes concrete timelines for interoperability and IPAWS unification standards, and requires ongoing statutory reviews to ensure sustainable, efficient emergency communications across Illinois.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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