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HB 3012

VEH-CD-ROADABLE AIRCRAFT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Joe Sosnowski

Illinois creates a hybrid framework for roadable aircraft: treated as aircraft in air, as motor vehicles on roads, with N-number plates and restricted road takeoffs.

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Bill Summary · HB 3012

Summary — HB 3012 (VEH-CD-ROADABLE AIRCRAFT)

Status: Enacted (signed by Governor 2025-05-28); Effective date: 2025-09-01
Primary sponsor: Rep. Joe C. Sosnowski
Introduced: February 6, 2025

Purpose

HB 3012 creates a legal framework in Illinois for "roadable aircraft" — aircraft capable of taking off/landing from an airfield that are also designed to be driven on public roadways. The bill defines the term, clarifies how such vehicles are to be regulated (both as aircraft and as motor vehicles), establishes registration and identification rules, and restricts takeoffs/landings on public roadways.

Key provisions

  • Definition

    • Adds a statutory definition of "roadable aircraft": an aircraft that can take off and land from a suitable airfield and is designed to be driven on public roadways.

  • Airfield / roadway operations

    • Requires roadable aircraft to take off and land from a suitable airstrip.
    • Prohibits takeoffs and landings from public roadways except in emergencies.
    • Designates roadable aircraft as motor vehicles while operating on public roadways.
    • Authorizes the Illinois Department of Transportation to adopt rules restricting use of roadways by roadable aircraft.

  • Identification, registration, titles, and plates

    • Recognizes FAA-issued tail numbers ("N-Number license markings") as the identifying marking for roadable aircraft.
    • Exempts roadable aircraft from Illinois certificate-of-title requirements (added to list of excluded vehicles).
    • Directs the Secretary of State to authorize issuance of license plates specific to roadable aircraft, sized appropriately, and bearing the N‑Number.
    • Provides that roadable aircraft must be identified using the federally issued tail number and may, but are not required to, display an additional license plate or decal.
    • Registration procedures: the Secretary of State issues a certificate of registration upon application if accompanied by (i) proof of valid and unexpired aircraft registration and (ii) a copy of an annual aircraft inspection completed within the prior 12 months.
    • Registration expiration is to match the aircraft's federal registration expiration.
    • Fees: registration includes the fee prescribed by Section 42 of the Illinois Aeronautics Act (payable to that Department). For Secretary of State processing, the bill specifies $15 for original issuance (deposited to the Special License Plate Fund) and $2 for each renewal period (text truncated but these amounts are included in the bill).

  • Inspections

    • Exempts roadable aircraft from Illinois motor vehicle inspection requirements (aircraft inspection requirements still referenced for registration).

Who is affected

  • Owners and operators of roadable aircraft (registration, operational restrictions, identification).
  • Illinois Secretary of State (plate design/issuance, registration processing).
  • Illinois Department of Transportation (rulemaking authority over roadway use).
  • Illinois Department of Aeronautics (aircraft registration and inspection coordination).
  • Local law enforcement and public roadway users (enforcement of roadway use restrictions).

Procedural timeline (selected)

  • Filed/first reading: 2025-02-06
  • Committee hearings/reports: March–April 2025
  • Passed both chambers: mid-May 2025
  • Sent to Governor: 2025-05-20
  • Signed by Governor: 2025-05-28
  • Effective: 2025-09-01

Impact summary

HB 3012 establishes Illinois law treating roadable aircraft as a hybrid category: subject to federal aircraft registration/inspection for aviation operations, while being treated as motor vehicles when on public roads. It simplifies vehicle-title requirements, creates a tailored registration and plate regime tied to FAA N‑Numbers, and prohibits aircraft takeoffs/landings on roadways except in emergencies. This provides legal clarity for owners/operators and state agencies that must implement and enforce the rules.

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

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