Bill Text: IL SB0198 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Heroes Way Designation Program Act. Adds a first responder killed while in the line of duty to the people who qualify for the Heroes Way Designation Program.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-04-11 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy [SB0198 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB0198-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB0198 Introduced 1/22/2025, by Sen. Chapin Rose SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
605 ILCS 127/5
605 ILCS 127/10
605 ILCS 127/15
Amends the Heroes Way Designation Program Act. Adds a first responder killed while in the line of duty to the people who qualify for the Heroes Way Designation Program.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning transportation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Heroes Way Designation Program Act is
amended by changing Sections 5, 10, and 15 as follows:
(605 ILCS 127/5)
Sec. 5. Purpose. This Act establishes a designation
program, to be known as the "Heroes Way Designation Program",
to honor the fallen Illinois heroes who have been killed in
action while performing active military duty with the United
States Armed Forces and the fallen Illinois heroes who have
been killed in the line of duty as a first responder.
(Source: P.A. 99-802, eff. 1-1-17.)
(605 ILCS 127/10)
Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Department" means the Illinois Department of
Transportation.
"First responder" includes emergency medical services
personnel, as defined in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Systems Act; firefighters; and law enforcement officials.
"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Illinois Department
of Transportation.

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"United States Armed Forces" means any branch of the
United States Military, including National Guard and military
reserve components.
(Source: P.A. 99-802, eff. 1-1-17.)
(605 ILCS 127/15)
Sec. 15. Heroes Way Designation Program.
(a) Any person who is related by marriage, adoption, or
consanguinity within the second degree to a member of the
United States Armed Forces who was killed in action while
performing active military duty with the Armed Forces, and who
was a resident of this State at the time he or she was killed
in action, may apply for a designation allowing the placement
of an honorary sign alongside roads designated under the
provisions of this Act.
(a-5) Any person related by marriage, adoption, or
consanguinity within the second degree to a first responder
who was killed in the line of duty and was a resident of this
State at the time he or she was killed may apply for a
designation allowing the placement of an honorary sign
alongside roads designated under the provisions of this Act.
(b) The honorary signs may be placed upon interstate or
state-numbered highway interchanges or upon bridges or
segments of highway under the jurisdiction of the Department
according to the provisions of this Section, and any
applicable federal and State limitations or conditions on

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highway signage, including location and spacing.
(c) Any person described under subsection (a) of this
Section who desires to have an interstate or state-numbered
highway interchange or bridge or segment of highway under the
jurisdiction of the Department designated after his or her
family member shall petition the Department by submitting an
application in a form prescribed by the Secretary. The form
shall include the amount of the fee under subsection (d) of
this Section. The application must meet the following
requirements:
(1) describe the interstate or state-numbered highway
interchange or bridge or segment of highway under the
jurisdiction of the Department for which the designation
is sought and the proposed name of the interchange,
bridge, or relevant segment of highway. The application
shall include the name of at least one current member of
the General Assembly who will sponsor the designation. The
application may contain written testimony for support of
the designation;
(2) a signed form, prescribed by the Secretary,
certifying that the applicant is related by marriage,
adoption, or consanguinity within the second degree to the
member of the United States Armed Forces who was killed in
action or, for a first responder, a signed letter from the
first responder's presiding Chief Officer certifying that
the applicant is related by marriage, adoption, or

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consanguinity within the second degree to the first
responder who was killed in the line of duty; and
(3) if the application is for a member of the United
States Armed Forces, the name of the member of the United
States Armed Forces for whom the designation is sought
must be listed on the National Gold Star Family Registry.
(d) After determining that the petitioner meets all of the
application requirements of subsection (c), the Department
shall submit a recommendation containing the proposed
designations to the sponsor in the General Assembly named in
the application. The Department shall be notified upon the
approval or denial of a proposed designation. Upon the
approval of a proposed designation, the petitioner shall
submit a fee to be determined by the Secretary to cover the
costs of constructing and maintaining the proposed signs on
the interchange, bridge, or segment of highway. The fee shall
not exceed the cost of constructing and maintaining each sign.
(e) The Department shall give notice of any proposed
designation under this Section on the Department's official
public website.
(f) Two signs shall be erected for each interchange,
bridge, or segment of highway designation processed under this
Section.
(g) No interchange, bridge, or segment of highway may be
named or designated under this Section if it carries an
existing designation. Neither a A designated member of the

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United States Armed Forces nor a designated first responder
shall not be eligible for more than one interchange, bridge,
or segment of highway designation under this Section.
(h) All moneys received by the Department for the
construction and maintenance of interchange, bridge, or
segment of highway signs shall be deposited in the "Road Fund"
of the State treasury.
(i) The documents and fees required under this Section
shall be submitted to the Department.
(Source: P.A. 99-802, eff. 1-1-17.)