North Egypt News

David Friess introduced HB1349 in the Illinois House on Jan. 14, 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. Provides that it shall be permissible to operate a non-highway vehicle on all roadways within the boundaries of a municipality with a total population less than 10,000 persons and population density of less than 750 persons per square mile, and the municipality has authorized the use of non-highway vehicles. Provides that a non-highway vehicle being operated within a municipality under the provisions shall be operated only by: (i) a disabled veteran who would be otherwise eligible for a disabled veteran registration plate and who has been issued a person with disabilities parking placard; (ii) on the farthest outside lane or shoulder of a roadway with a speed limit not in excess of 35 miles per hour; (iii) for a distance of less than 5 miles per one-way trip from the point of origin to the point of destination; (iv) with the person with disabilities parking placard displayed; and (v) without crossing any toll roads or limited-access highways. Effective immediately."

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 to allow non-highway vehicles to operate on all roadways within municipalities with populations under 10,000 and a population density of less than 750 people per square mile, provided the municipality authorizes such use. Non-highway vehicles must be driven by disabled veterans eligible for a disabled veteran registration plate and must display a person with disabilities parking placard. Operations are restricted to roadways with speed limits not exceeding 35 mph on the farthest outside lane or shoulder, for trips less than five miles one way, and without crossing toll roads or limited-access highways. These vehicles must meet specific safety equipment requirements, including brakes, a steering apparatus, mirrors, lights, and reflectors, and the bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

David Friess has proposed another 15 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Friess graduated from Mercer University with a BS and again from John Marshall Law School with a JD.

David Friess is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 115th House District. He replaced previous state representative Nathan Reitz in 2023.

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
HB1349	01/14/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that it shall be permissible to operate a non-highway vehicle on all roadways within the boundaries of a municipality with a total population less than 10,000 persons and population density of less than 750 persons per square mile, and the municipality has authorized the use of non-highway vehicles. Provides that a non-highway vehicle being operated within a municipality under the provisions shall be operated only by: (i) a disabled veteran who would be otherwise eligible for a disabled veteran registration plate and who has been issued a person with disabilities parking placard; (ii) on the farthest outside lane or shoulder of a roadway with a speed limit not in excess of 35 miles per hour; (iii) for a distance of less than 5 miles per one-way trip from the point of origin to the point of destination; (iv) with the person with disabilities parking placard displayed; and (v) without crossing any toll roads or limited-access highways. Effective immediately.
HB1348	01/14/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State shall issue distinctive registration plates for non-highway vehicles. Provides that the Secretary shall issue these plates only to non-highway vehicles that are insured and have brakes, a steering apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear, a slow moving emblem on the rear, a headlight that emits a white light, a tail lamp that emits a red light, brake lights, and turn signals. Provides that every owner of a non-highway vehicle that drives upon a roadway with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less shall pay the Secretary an annual registration fee of $76. Provides that the registration fee shall be distributed as follows: $1 to the State Treasurer, for deposit into the State Police Service Fund; $30 to the State Treasurer, for deposit into the Road Fund; and $45 to the Treasurer of the county of residence of the owner of the non-highway vehicle, for deposit into the road fund of the county. Provides that vehicles with a registration plate may be operated on any street, highway, or roadway where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less or any county highway where the posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour or less and may make a direct crossing upon or across certain roads.
HB1350	01/14/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, effective December 1, 2025, a State's Attorney in a county containing fewer than 10,000 inhabitants shall make the same salary as a State's Attorney in county containing more than 10,000 inhabitants but fewer than 20,000 inhabitants. Effective immediately.
HB1231	01/10/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits a hate crime if the person commits specified crimes by reason of the actual or perceived employment as a peace officer of another individual, regardless of the existence of any other motivating factor or factors.
HB1232	01/10/2025	Repeals the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Amends various Acts to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB1233	01/10/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Act to the contrary, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois State Police may not revoke a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a Firearm Owner's Identification Card may only be revoked after a Firearm Owner's Identification Card hearing has been held in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that, if the State's Attorney of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked has probable cause to believe that the person who has been issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card is no longer eligible for the Card under the Act, the State's Attorney shall file a petition in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that at the hearing, the person may present evidence in his or her favor seeking retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the Illinois State Police and State's Attorney may present evidence for revocation. Provides that the hearing shall be a civil proceeding and subject to due process, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Illinois Rules of Evidence as adopted by the Supreme Court. Provides that the hearing shall be held within 45 days after the filing of the petition. Provides that if the circuit court determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person is ineligible for retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card under the Act, the court shall order the Illinois State Police to immediately revoke the Card and the circuit clerk shall seize the Card and transmit the Card to the Illinois State Police. Establishes procedures for the Illinois State Police to suspend a Firearm Owner's Identification Card Act.
HB0048	01/09/2025	Amends the Open Meetings Act. In a provision permitting an interactive video conference in establishing a quorum for a local workforce investment area in an open meeting of that public body, with certain conditions, adds that a tourism board, convention center board, or civic center board also is permitted to use an interactive video conference in establishing a quorum, with the same conditions. In a provision exempting a local workforce innovation area, with certain conditions, from requirements to be physically present at the location of a closed meeting, adds the same exemption for a tourism board, convention center board, or civic center board, with the same conditions. In a provision exempting a local workforce innovation area, with certain conditions, from limitations regarding attendance by members of a public body by a means other than physical presence, adds the same exemption for a tourism board, convention center board, or civic center board, with the same conditions. Replaces references to "local workforce innovation areas" with references to "local workforce investment areas" in provisions regarding exemptions from requirements to be physically present at the location of a closed meeting and exemptions from limitations regarding attendance by other than physical presence.
HB0049	01/09/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Provides that, in matters a sheriff deems essential to preventing or assisting with disasters or events of civil disorder, the sheriff may authorize plain clothes to be worn by auxiliary deputies as long as the auxiliary deputies are carrying proper identification while performing this function. Provides that auxiliary deputies may only carry firearms while in the performance of their assigned duties (rather than while in uniform and in the performance of their assigned duties).
HB0050	01/09/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall create and implement a policy of electronic scanning and processing of all incoming mail in all Department of Corrections institutions and facilities, including the use of drug interdiction technologies to protect the health and safety of committed persons, the Department's staff, and its contractors. Provides that the policy shall require that mail processed electronically shall be available to committed persons only through kiosk and tablet services. Provides that the policy shall require that the mail be held in storage for a period of time by the correctional institution or facility or destroyed, as determined by the Director of Corrections. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement this provision. Effective immediately.
HB1116	01/09/2025	Amends the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act. Provides that if a student-athlete earns more than $250,000 from the use of the name, image, likeness, or voice of the student-athlete, then any academic scholarship granted to the student-athlete shall be reduced by $1 per dollar the student-athlete earns over $250,000.
HB1204	01/09/2025	Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that any athletic team or sport that is under the jurisdiction of an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and students must be expressly designated as (i) a male athletic team or sport, (ii) a female athletic team or sport, or (iii) a coeducational athletic team or sport. Provides that an athletic team or sport designated as being female is available only to participants who are female, based on their biological sex. Requires a school district or nonpublic school to obtain a written statement signed by a student's parent or guardian or the student verifying the student's age, biological sex, and that the student has not taken performance enhancing drugs; provides for a penalty for false or misleading statements. Prohibits a governmental entity or an association or entity that provides for interscholastic athletics or athletic competition among schools and students from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking any other adverse action against a school district or nonpublic school for maintaining athletic teams or sports in accordance with these provisions.
HB1205	01/09/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of county commissioners of a county with a population of less than 100,000 may, by ordinance or resolution, dissolve a municipal board of election commissioners within that county and transfer its functions to the county clerk.
HB1206	01/09/2025	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist police officers who have left law enforcement with repayment of student loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the State that are the most under-staffed and in need of additional officers. Sets forth qualifications for applicants. Provides that each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000 per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner. Provides that an applicant has one year from the date that the first student loan assistance payment is received to begin work in a shortage area. Provides that applicants currently working in shortage areas are eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability shall be given priority for the Program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2026.
HB1207	01/09/2025	Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that the pretrial services agency supervising and monitoring a defendant on pretrial release shall immediately notify the law enforcement agency of the defendant's primary residence and contact information and the office of the State's Attorney that charged the defendant if the person on pretrial release violates a no contact order.
HB1208	01/09/2025	Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that when a defendant has previously been granted pretrial release for any offense (rather than for a felony or Class A misdemeanor), that pretrial release shall (rather than may) be revoked if the defendant is charged with an offense that is alleged to have occurred during the defendant's pretrial release, regardless of the classification of offense (rather than charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor) after a hearing on the court's own motion or upon the filing of a verified petition by the State.
HB1209	01/09/2025	Creates the Classification by Biological Sex Act. Sets forth findings. Provides that any public school or school district and any State or local agency, department, or office that collects vital statistics for the purpose of complying with antidiscrimination laws or for the purpose of gathering public health, crime, economic, or other data shall classify each individual who is part of the collected data set as either male or female at birth. Amends the Statute on Statutes. Sets forth the meaning of the following terms as used in any statute or any rule or regulation: sex; female and male; woman and girl; man and boy; and mother and father.
HB1210	01/09/2025	Amends the School Code. Removes the requirement that beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, in addition to other course requirements, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses, which may include American Sign Language.
HB1211	01/09/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall establish and maintain a Temporary Teacher Apprenticeship Program to assist qualified participants in acquiring a Professional Educator License. Provides that the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, may establish and adopt any rules necessary to implement this program, including the standards that a qualified participant must meet to receive a Professional Educator License. Sets forth the requirements to complete the program. Provides that upon completing the requirements of the program, a qualified participant is eligible for a Professional Educator License. Makes related changes. Provides that a foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may be issued to an applicant who provides satisfactory evidence that he or she meets specified requirements. Provides that the foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations is valid until June 30 immediately following 5 years of the endorsement being issued and may be renewed. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations may teach a course on the foreign language for which the foreign language endorsement is issued. Provides that an individual who holds a valid foreign language endorsement on an Educator License with Stipulations but does not hold a bachelor's degree may substitute teach in foreign language classrooms. Effective July 1, 2025.