Complete Story
05/17/2026
Legislative Alert: Support HB 4948 & HB 5081 – Tools to Improve Speed Management and Transportation Safety
Legislative Committee
American Planning Association – Illinois Chapter
May 15, 2026
Illinois lawmakers are considering two important bills that would strengthen the ability of state and local governments to manage vehicle speeds and improve roadway safety. If enacted, HB 4948 and HB 5081 would help reduce dangerous speeding, support safer roadway design, and provide communities with modern tools to address traffic safety challenges. Both bills represent meaningful progress toward reducing serious injuries and fatalities on Illinois roadways. These bills align with APAIL’s legislative priority of “Prioritization of transportation safety over vehicle volume/speed.”
Here’s how you can advocate:
Step #1: Visit www.elections.il.gov to find your legislators and their contact information.
Step #2: Email your legislators and let them know they should SUPPORT HB 4948 and HB 5081.
House Bill 4948 – Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA)
Original sponsor: Rep. Martha Deuter (D – 45th District)
Status: The bill has passed the House and is on its third reading in the Senate, i.e., under consideration for final passage.
Summary: HB 4948 establishes an Intelligent Speed Assist program for drivers with a documented pattern of repeated excessive speeding. ISA technology is a nationally recognized best practice and has been adopted or proposed in several other states. The bill focuses on behavior correction for high risk drivers by requiring installation of ISA devices after repeated violations.
Why this matters:
- Addresses the small subset of drivers responsible for a disproportionate share of dangerous speeding.
- Provides a corrective tool beyond fines or license actions.
- Supports statewide safety goals by reducing high risk behavior.
- Includes appropriate data retention limits.
HB 4948 is a targeted, evidence based approach that supports safer streets statewide.
House Bill 5081 – Speed Limits and Safety Zones
Original sponsor: Rep. Matt Hanson (D – 83rd District)
Status: The bill passed the House and is now on its third reading in the Senate. A recent floor amendment was adopted on May 6 and would require concurrence from the House prior to final passage.
Summary: HB 5081 allows municipalities to lower speed limits on certain urban and residential streets without requiring a traffic engineering study, under defined conditions. This gives communities more flexibility to proactively manage speeds and align posted limits with safety goals. A recent amendment also authorizes IDOT to reduce speed limits on state‑controlled highways within municipal boundaries without a traffic engineering study when the reduction aligns with a locally determined target speed.
Why this matters
- Lower posted speeds can lead to improvements in traffic safety.
- Lower posted speeds can also support future roadway redesigns, including narrower lanes, traffic calming, and improved vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle safety.
HB 5081 gives communities and IDOT more flexible, modern tools to manage speeds and improve safety on both local streets and state routes. Recent amendments have strengthened the effectiveness of the bill by expanding its applicability to state routes. Future legislative sessions may offer opportunities to further strengthen statewide speed‑management tools.
Why APAIL Supports These Bills
Guided by APAIL’s 2026 Legislative Priorities, APAIL supports HB 4948 and HB 5081 because they:
- Provide practical, implementable tools for reducing dangerous speeding.
- Address safety concerns on both local streets and state‑controlled routes.
- Align with national best practices and emerging safety technologies.
- Represent meaningful progress toward safer streets statewide.
Recommendation: APA‑IL encourages members to contact their state legislators and urge them to SUPPORT HB 4948 and HB 5081.
Questions?
Please contact Legislative Co-Chairs Drew Awsumb, AICP or Daniel Comeaux, AICP at legislative@ilapa.org.
Click here to learn more about the APAIL Legislative Committee.
