Bill
HB 2637
Active Illinois National Guard members may drive toll highways toll-free with an Official Permit Card; the Toll Authority issues permits and keeps a public permit list.
Status: Enacted by the Illinois General Assembly; signed by the Governor 2025-06-20; effective 2025-09-01.
Main purpose
- To allow active‑status members of the Illinois National Guard to use Illinois toll highways without paying the established tolls, provided they apply for and receive an Official Permit Card from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (Authority). The bill directs the Authority to adopt rules for permit issuance and to maintain a publicly inspectable list of permit holders.
Key provisions
- Amends Section 19 of the Toll Highway Act (605 ILCS 10/19).
- Toll exemption: An active‑status Illinois National Guard member may use any toll highway without paying the toll if the member has applied for and received an Official Permit Card from the Authority.
- Rulemaking: The Authority must adopt rules governing application and issuance of the Official Permit Card (permit).
- Recordkeeping: The Authority must maintain in its office a list of all permit holders; the list is open to public inspection.
- Existing exemptions preserved: The bill is framed within the existing Section 19 language that already exempts certain agency and emergency vehicles and mass transit vehicles; those provisions remain in force.
- Bondholder protections & toll setting: The statute’s existing requirement that tolls be set to generate revenues sufficient to cover construction, maintenance, bond principal and interest, and related obligations remains. The Authority must take into account any toll exemptions (including this new exemption) when setting toll rates and may not apply exemptions in a way that impairs bondholders’ contractual rights.
Who is affected
- Primary: Active‑status members of the Illinois National Guard who obtain the Official Permit Card — they may use toll highways without paying tolls.
- Administrative: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority — must create rules, issue permits, and maintain records.
- Financial stakeholders: Toll revenue will be affected to the extent permit holders use toll facilities; the Authority must consider exemptions when setting toll rates to meet bond and operating obligations. Bondholders retain protection against impairment of their contractual rights.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced 02/06/2025. Committee hearings and amendments followed in spring 2025.
- Passed both chambers (House and Senate) in May 2025; enrolled and sent to Governor; signed 06/20/2025.
- Effective date: September 1, 2025.
Sponsors and related bills
- Sponsors (as provided): Rep. Alexander Kolodin (primary) and Rep. Rachel Keshel (cosponsor) — note the document includes multiple jurisdictions; the enacted Toll Highway Act amendment is Illinois HB2637 (sponsored in Illinois by Rep. Martin McLaughlin as introduced).
- Companion/related: SB 1647 (companion).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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