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Bill

HB 2742

Relating to persons with disabilities.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Fragala and 2 co-sponsors

Allows veterans traveling to/from medical appointments to use toll highways for free with an Official Permit Card issued by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2742

Summary — HB 2742 (Toll Highway Act amendment): “No Toll for Veterans (medical travel)”

Sponsor: Rep. Wayne A. Rosenthal
Introduced: Early February 2025 (LRB shows 2/6/2025)
Statutory reference: Amends the Toll Highway Act — 605 ILCS 10/19

Main purpose

Authorize the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to issue an Official Permit Card that allows qualifying veterans to use any toll highway without paying the established toll when traveling to or from a medical appointment.

Key provisions

  • Adds a veteran exemption to Section 19 of the Toll Highway Act (605 ILCS 10/19).
  • A veteran who is traveling to or from a medical appointment may use any toll highway without paying the toll if the veteran has applied for and received from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority an Official Permit Card.
  • Directs the Authority to adopt rules governing issuance of the permit (application, verification, terms of use, etc.).
  • Requires the Authority to maintain a public list of vehicles/permit-holders authorized to use toll highways without charge in official Authority business; the bill extends rule/recordkeeping duties to cover the veteran permit.
  • Specifies that “veteran” means an individual who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, the National Guard, or the reserves.
  • Retains existing statutory language that toll-setting must account for exemptions and must not impair rights of bondholders under trust indentures or bond resolutions.

Who is affected

  • Veterans (as defined) traveling to or from medical appointments who obtain an Official Permit Card.
  • Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (rulemaking, permit administration, recordkeeping).
  • Toll-paying motorists and the Authority’s revenue streams (potential small loss of toll receipts).
  • Bondholders — the statute continues to require that toll rate-setting and exemptions be consistent with bond covenants (i.e., exemptions cannot impair bondholder rights).

Implementation and procedural points

  • The Authority must adopt implementing rules — the timing, documentation required, application process, and enforcement mechanisms will be determined through that rulemaking.
  • The bill’s practical fiscal impact will depend on (a) how many veterans obtain permits and use tollways for medical travel, and (b) whether the Authority offsets revenue loss through toll-rate adjustments (subject to bond obligations).
  • No enactment or effective date is included in the text excerpt; next steps are rulemaking and administrative implementation by the Toll Highway Authority once the law (if enacted) takes effect.

Potential impacts to consider

  • Access: May reduce out‑of‑pocket transportation costs for veterans seeking medical care.
  • Revenue/finance: Possible modest reduction in toll receipts; statute safeguards bondholder protections and requires toll-setting to take exemptions into account.
  • Administrative: Authority will incur costs to design, verify, issue, and track permits and to develop enforcement procedures.

If you want, I can draft a short list of issues the Authority should address in its rules (verification documents, temporary vs. permanent permits, vehicle vs. driver-based permits, enforcement and fraud prevention, estimated fiscal impact).

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

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