Bill
HB 2432
HB 2432 lets commercial relocators recover locally adopted towing permit or vehicle release fees in their charges, subject to ICC oversight and caps.
Status (as provided)
- Introduced: February 4, 2025
- Sponsor: Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. (primary)
- Early actions: First reading and referral to Rules Committee (2/4/2025); assigned to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety (2/25/2025); status noted as Rule 19(a) / re‑referred to Rules Committee (3/21/2025).
- Bill would add 625 ILCS 5/18a‑200.1 to the Illinois Vehicle Code.
Purpose / intent
- To allow commercial relocators (towing/relocation companies) to include certain locally imposed towing permit or vehicle release fees in the amounts they charge customers, subject to oversight by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The provision is intended to permit relocators to recover locally-required administrative fees needed to operate an existing relocator program.
Key provisions
- Adds new Section 18a‑200.1 to the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/18a‑200.1).
- "Notwithstanding" Sections 18a‑200 and 18a‑300, the ICC shall allow commercial relocators to recover, as part of their lawful fees and charges, towing permit fees or vehicle release fees that:
- are lawfully adopted by a unit of local government, and
- are imposed by a law enforcement agency as a necessary administrative fee to effectuate an existing relocator program in that unit of local government.
- The ICC is authorized to set the maximum amount of such towing permit or vehicle release fees that a commercial relocator may recover from customers.
Who or what is affected
- Commercial relocators/towing companies operating under local relocator programs.
- Units of local government and their law enforcement agencies which adopt towing permit or vehicle release fees.
- Vehicle owners or other customers who pay towing/relocation and vehicle release charges — these fees could be passed through or incorporated into relocator charges subject to ICC limits.
- The Illinois Commerce Commission — granted explicit authority to permit recovery and to cap recoverable amounts.
Procedural and regulatory aspects
- The provision expressly overrides (by "notwithstanding") any conflicting language in Sections 18a‑200 and 18a‑300.
- ICC involvement creates a statewide regulatory role: relocation companies may include the local fees in their customer charges only as allowed under ICC rules and subject to any maximums set by the Commission.
Potential impacts / considerations
- Financial: Enables relocators to avoid absorbing local permitting or release fees, likely increasing recoverable revenue for relocators and potentially increasing amounts billed to vehicle owners.
- Local government: Preserves ability of local governments to impose administrative fees for relocator programs but may result in those fees being passed to consumers rather than borne by relocators.
- Consumer protection: ICC authority to cap recoverable amounts introduces a regulatory check intended to limit excessive pass‑through charges; details depend on subsequent ICC rulemaking or orders.
- Administrative: Implementation requires coordination between local governments, law enforcement agencies, relocators, and the ICC to define which fees are recoverable and the caps ICC will set.
Drafting note
- The bill text in the file contains some fragmented/duplicative lines; the essential, intended effect (allowing recovery of lawfully adopted local towing/vehicle release fees with ICC oversight and caps) is clear in the core language adding Section 18a‑200.1.
If you want, I can:
- Produce a one‑page briefing for local governments or towing businesses describing immediate compliance steps, or
- Draft suggested amendment language to clarify definitions (e.g., “commercial relocator,” “vehicle release fee,” effective date, or ICC rulemaking timeline).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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