Metro East Sun

Jay Hoffman introduced HB1226 in the Illinois House on Jan. 9, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 79 years or older to renew in person. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 87 years of age or or who is 75 years of age or older and holds a commercial driver's license to prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State relative to the medical condition of a person if the condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Requires information to be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary and shall include the name of the person submitting the information. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting or acting on anonymous reports. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Illinois Vehicle Code regarding the examination and reexamination of drivers and the handling of licenses or permits. It mandates that the Secretary of State examine each applicant for a driver's license or permit, particularly those who are new or have an expired license exceeding a year, and requires the testing of eyesight. The bill includes directives to incorporate questions on pedestrian safety, bicycle awareness, the Dutch Reach method, and procedures around stationary emergency vehicles into written exams. It establishes that drivers of certain ages, including those 75 and older, undergo specific demonstrations of driving ability for license renewal and allows the use of interpreters during the examination process. Furthermore, it grants the Secretary power to demand reexaminations or correct licenses if issued in error or under false pretenses. Medical professionals and others can submit information about an individual’s medical condition impacting their driving ability, though anonymous reports are not accepted. This bill is set to take effect July 1, 2026.

Jay Hoffman has proposed another 10 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Hoffman graduated from Illinois State University in 1983 with a BS and again in 1986 from Saint Louis University School of Law with a JD.

Jay Hoffman is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 113th House District. He replaced previous state representative Scott Penny in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1226	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 79 years or older to renew in person. Requires every applicant for the renewal of a driver's license who is 87 years of age or or who is 75 years of age or older and holds a commercial driver's license to prove, by an actual demonstration, the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable care in the safe operation of a motor vehicle. Allows an immediate family member to submit information to the Secretary of State relative to the medical condition of a person if the condition interferes with the person's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Requires information to be submitted in writing in a manner and form approved by the Secretary and shall include the name of the person submitting the information. Prohibits the Secretary from accepting or acting on anonymous reports. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.
HB1079	01/09/2025	Amends the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1090	01/09/2025	Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes formatting changes to the definition of "public works".
HB1180	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1181	01/09/2025	Amends the Fire Department Promotion Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
HB1182	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning veteran's and educational preference.
HB1183	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning appointments by the board of fire and police commissioners.
HB1184	01/09/2025	Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning an election against organization as a fire protection district.
HB1185	01/09/2025	Amends the Fire Protection District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning an election against organization as a fire protection district.
HB1186	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning downstate firefighters.
HB1189	01/09/2025	Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the definition of "public works" includes all federal construction projects administered or controlled by a public body if the prevailing rate of wages is equal to or greater than the prevailing wage determination by the United States Secretary of Labor for the same locality for the same type of construction used to classify the federal construction project. Makes a conforming change. Effective July 1, 2025.