Bill Text: IL HB3196 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Chicago Transit Authority, Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of the income eligibility limitation set forth in specified provisions of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act (rather than who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in that Act).

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-18 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB3196 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB3196-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3196 Introduced , by Rep. Hoan Huynh SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
70 ILCS 3605/51
70 ILCS 3615/3A.15
70 ILCS 3615/3B.14
Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Chicago Transit Authority, Suburban Bus Board, and the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed 105% of the income eligibility limitation set forth in specified provisions of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act (rather than who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth in that Act).
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STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is
amended by changing Section 51 as follows:
(70 ILCS 3605/51)
Sec. 51. Free and reduced fare services; eligibility.
(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
60 days following January 18, 2008 (the effective date of
Public Act 95-708) and until subsection (b) is implemented,
any fixed route public transportation services provided by, or
under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Board
shall be provided without charge to all senior citizens of the
Metropolitan Region (as such term is defined in Section 1.03
of the Regional Transportation Authority Act) aged 65 and
older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
Board.
(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
180 days following February 14, 2011 (the effective date of
Public Act 96-1527), any fixed route public transportation
services provided by, or under grant or purchase of service
contracts of, the Board shall be provided without charge to
senior citizens aged 65 and older whose income does not exceed

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105% of who meet the income eligibility limitation set forth
in subsection (a-5) of Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and
Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, under such
conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board. The Department
on Aging shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to
determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals
who are eligible for services without charge under this
Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made,
an individual's eligibility for free services shall
automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the
Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued
identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in
this Section shall relieve the Board from providing reduced
fares as may be required by federal law.
(c) The Board shall partner with the City of Chicago to
provide transportation at reduced fares for participants in
programs that offer employment and internship opportunities to
youth and young adults ages 14 through 24.
(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24; 103-281, eff. 1-1-24;
103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)
Section 10. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is
amended by changing Sections 3A.15 and 3B.14 as follows:
(70 ILCS 3615/3A.15)
Sec. 3A.15. Free services; eligibility.

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(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is
implemented, any fixed route public transportation services
provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts
of, the Suburban Bus Board shall be provided without charge to
all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and
older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
Suburban Bus Board.
(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public
transportation services provided by, or under grant or
purchase of service contracts of, the Suburban Bus Board shall
be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65 and
older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the income
eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of
Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities
Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be
prescribed by the Suburban Bus Board. The Department on Aging
shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to
determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals
who are eligible for services without charge under this
Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made,
an individual's eligibility for free services shall
automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the

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Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued
identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in
this Section shall relieve the Suburban Bus Board from
providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.
(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24.)
(70 ILCS 3615/3B.14)
Sec. 3B.14. Free services; eligibility.
(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
60 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of
the 95th General Assembly and until subsection (b) is
implemented, any fixed route public transportation services
provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts
of, the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided without charge
to all senior citizens of the Metropolitan Region aged 65 and
older, under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the
Commuter Rail Board.
(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no later than
180 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act
of the 96th General Assembly, any fixed route public
transportation services provided by, or under grant or
purchase of service contracts of, the Commuter Rail Board
shall be provided without charge to senior citizens aged 65
and older whose income does not exceed 105% of who meet the
income eligibility limitation set forth in subsection (a-5) of
Section 4 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities

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Property Tax Relief Act, under such conditions as shall be
prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board. The Department on Aging
shall furnish all information reasonably necessary to
determine eligibility, including updated lists of individuals
who are eligible for services without charge under this
Section. After an initial eligibility determination is made,
an individual's eligibility for free services shall
automatically renew every 5 years after receipt by the
Authority of a copy of the individual's government-issued
identification card validating Illinois residency. Nothing in
this Section shall relieve the Commuter Rail Board from
providing reduced fares as may be required by federal law.
(Source: P.A. 103-241, eff. 1-1-24.)