SB 1247 — Volunteer Firefighter License Plates (Illinois)
Status and Sponsors
- Bill number: SB 1247 (Illinois)
- Principal sponsor: Sen. Sue Rezin
- Statutory change: Adds 625 ILCS 5/3-611.6 (new section) and amends 625 ILCS 5/3-808.1
- Legislative status (as provided): Passed both chambers, signed by the Governor; listed effective date 9/1/2025. (See bill history for detailed procedural dates and committee actions.)
Purpose
- Authorize the Secretary of State to issue special registration/license plates recognizing volunteer firefighters and to provide for permanent license plates for vehicles owned by municipal fire departments or fire protection districts (including vehicles operated by volunteer firefighters).
Key provisions
- New Section 3-611.6 (Volunteer firefighter plates)
- The Secretary of State may issue special license plates, upon request from a municipality or fire protection district that operates a fire department, accompanied by an application and the appropriate fee.
- Special plates may be issued for passenger vehicles (first division) or second-division motor vehicles up to 8,000 pounds owned by the fire department or by a volunteer firefighter.
- Plates expire under the multi-year expiration procedure (Section 3-414.1).
- Plate design and color are left to the Secretary’s discretion; plates are not required to display the “Land of Lincoln” legend.
- Fee for a volunteer firefighter plate (for a vehicle owned by a volunteer firefighter) is set equal to the standard fee for first-division vehicles (per Section 3-806).
- Permanent plates for vehicles owned by a municipal fire department or fire protection district are to be issued at the fee prescribed in subsection (b) of Section 3-808.1.
- Amendment to Section 3-808.1 (permanent plates)
- Expands the existing list of vehicles eligible for permanent registration plates and procedure details.
- Specifies that beginning with the 2026 registration year, municipally- or district-owned vehicles operated by volunteer firefighters shall display the designation “Volunteer Firefighter” and show the specific fire department/district/unit or MABAS division identifier.
- Prescribes a one-time fee (commonly $8.00 in the amended contexts) for issuance of certain permanent plates (see statute for precise fee language and applicability).
Who is affected
- Volunteer firefighters seeking specialty plates for personally owned qualifying vehicles.
- Municipal fire departments, fire protection districts, and MABAS-participating entities that own qualifying vehicles.
- Secretary of State (administration, plate design, issuance rules).
- Motor vehicle registrants for these vehicles (minor fee and registration process impacts).
Potential impact
- Administrative: The Secretary of State will need to create plate designs, adjust issuance procedures, and potentially adopt implementing rules; permanent-plate issuance and transfer exemptions require administrative tracking.
- Financial: Fee structure ties volunteer firefighter plates to existing first-division fees; permanent-plate one-time fees are minimal (statute references an $8 one-time fee in the amendment). Net fiscal effect is likely small.
- Recognition and operational: Provides visible recognition for volunteer firefighters and simplifies registration for department-owned vehicles via permanent plates and transfer exemptions.
Notes and next steps
- The Secretary of State is empowered to adopt rules governing plate requirements and approval.
- For exact fee figures, effective dates, and administrative details, consult the enacted statutory language (625 ILCS 5/3-611.6 and amended 3-808.1) and the Secretary of State’s implementing rules once published.
