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HB 3479

MUNI CD-END AMBULANCE SERVICE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Rick Ryan and 1 co-sponsor

Requires a referendum before any Illinois municipality with 500+ residents dissolves its own ambulance department, preserving employee rights and limiting home rule authority.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 3479

HB 3479 — MUNI CD‑END AMBULANCE SERVICE (Illinois, 104th GA)

Status: Enacted — Signed by Governor 6/20/2025; effective immediately (6/20/2025)
Primary sponsor: Rep. Rick Ryan; Co‑sponsor: Rep. Kevin Schmidt

Purpose / Intent

To require voter approval before a municipality that owns, operates, or maintains an ambulance department may discontinue that department, and to protect employee rights associated with any dissolved municipal ambulance department. The change is added to the Illinois Municipal Code as new Section 11‑5‑8.5.

Key provisions

  • Adds 65 ILCS 5/11‑5‑8.5 to the Illinois Municipal Code.
  • Municipalities with 500 or more residents that own/operate/maintain an ambulance department under Section 11‑5‑7 may not cease operation of the department without first submitting the question to a referendum.
  • Provides sample ballot language for the referendum: "Shall the (name of ambulance department) serving the citizens within (list local unit(s) of government) cease to provide emergency services and be dissolved and discontinued? YES / NO"
  • If a majority of votes cast favor dissolution, the court shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department.
  • Explicitly preserves employee rights: personnel protections under the Personnel Code, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, and rights under any pension, retirement, or annuity plans are not affected by this Act.
  • Limits home rule authority: home rule municipalities may not dissolve an ambulance department in a manner inconsistent with this Section. The statute is stated as a constitutional limitation on concurrent home rule powers.

Who is affected

  • Municipalities in Illinois with populations of 500+ that currently own, operate, or maintain ambulance departments.
  • Local voters in those municipalities (they must approve dissolution by majority vote).
  • Employees of affected ambulance departments (employment, bargaining, and pension rights preserved).
  • Home rule municipalities (subject to the limitation established by the Act).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced 2/18/2025; passed both chambers in May 2025; enrolled and sent to Governor 5/26/2025; signed and effective 6/20/2025.
  • Implementation: any municipality subject to the provision must hold a referendum consistent with the statute before ceasing ambulance operations; if approved by voters, a court order effectuates discontinuation.

Considerations / potential impacts

  • Increases direct voter control over municipal decisions to dissolve local ambulance services.
  • May make it more difficult or time‑consuming for municipalities to reorganize or outsource emergency medical services.
  • Preserves employee rights, potentially affecting transition costs or obligations if services are dissolved.

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

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