SB1805 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 08510 HLH 22162 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1805

Introduced 2/5/2025, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
630 ILCS 5/10
630 ILCS 5/36 new
5 ILCS 100/5-45.61 new
5 ILCS 100/5-45.62 new
30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new

Creates the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Act. Provides that a fee is imposed on the privilege of engaging in business as an electric vehicle power provider in this State. Provides that, from January 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027, the rate of fee shall be $0.06 per kilowatt hour of electric vehicle power. Provides that the rate of fee shall be increased on January 1 of each year by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index. Amends the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act. Creates a dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging pilot program. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to provide for emergency rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning electric vehicles.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Consumer Price Index" means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor that measures the average change in prices of goods and services purchased by all urban consumers, United States city average, all items, 1982-84 = 100.

"Department" means the Department of Revenue.

"Distribute" means to deliver or transfer electric power into the battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle at a location in this State.

"Electric vehicle" means any motor vehicle of the first division that is propelled by an electric engine and does not use motor fuel.

"Electric vehicle charging station" means any place accessible to general public vehicular traffic, other than a residence, where electric power may be used to charge a battery or other storage device of a licensed electric vehicle.

"Electric vehicle power" means electrical energy that is distributed into the battery or other energy storage device of an electric vehicle and that is used to power the vehicle.

"Electric vehicle power provider" means a person who owns or leases an electric vehicle charging station.

"Person" means any natural individual, firm, trust, estate, partnership, association, joint-stock company, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, or a receiver, trustee, guardian, or other representative appointed by order of any court.

Section 10. Imposition of fee.

(a) Beginning on January 1, 2026, a fee is imposed on the privilege of engaging in business as an electric vehicle power provider in this State. From January 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027, the fee shall be imposed at the rate of $0.06 per kilowatt hour of electric vehicle power that is distributed in this State by the electric vehicle power provider for the purpose of charging an electric vehicle. On January 1, 2027, and on January 1 of each subsequent year, the fee imposed in this paragraph shall be increased by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending in September of the year in which the increase takes place. The rate shall be rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one cent.

(b) The fee shall be added to the selling price charged by the electric vehicle power provider at the electric vehicle charging station on electric vehicle power sold in this State. If there is no selling price at the charging station, then the electric vehicle power provider shall be responsible for paying the fee on the electric power distributed by the electric vehicle charging station.

(c) The fee shall be paid by the electric vehicle power provider to the Department. The electric vehicle power provider is liable for the payment of the electric vehicle power fee.

Section 15. Collection of fee. The fee imposed by this Act shall be collected from the purchaser by the electric vehicle power provider at the rate stated in Section 10 and shall be remitted to the Department as provided in this Act. All charges for electric vehicle power from an electric vehicle charging station are presumed subject to fee collection. Electric vehicle power providers shall collect the fee from purchasers by adding the fee to the amount of the purchase price received from the purchaser. The fee imposed by the Act shall, when collected, be stated as a distinct item separate and apart from the purchase price of the service subject to fee under this Act. However, where it is not possible to state the fee separately the Department may, by rule, exempt those purchases from this requirement so long as purchasers are notified by language on the invoice or notified by a sign that the fee is included in the purchase price.

The proceeds from the fee collected under this Act shall be deposited into the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Fund.

Section 20. Filing of returns. On or before the last day of each calendar month, each electric vehicle power provider that is engaged in the business of providing electric vehicle power during the preceding calendar month shall file a return with the Department, stating:

(1) the name of the electric vehicle power provider;

(2) the address of the electric vehicle power provider's principal place of business and, if applicable, the address of the principal place of business from which the electric vehicle power provider provides electric vehicle power in this State;

(3) the total amount of kilowatt hours distributed by the electric vehicle provider in the preceding calendar month;

(4) any deductions from the fee imposed by this Act to which the electric vehicle power provider is entitled;

(5) the total amount of receipts received by the electric vehicle power provider during the preceding calendar month from the distribution of electric vehicle power;

(6) the amount of the fee due; and

(7) such other reasonable information as the Department may require.

If an electric vehicle power provider ceases to engage in the kind of business that makes it responsible for filing returns under this Act, then that electric vehicle power provider shall file a final return under this Act with the Department on or before the last day of the month after discontinuing that business.

All returns required to be filed and payments required to be made under this Act shall be filed and made by electronic means. Persons who demonstrate hardship in filing or paying electronically may petition the Department to waive the electronic filing or payment requirement, or both. The Department may require a separate return for the fee under this Act or combine the return for the fee under this Act with the return for other fees.

If the same person has more than one business registered with the Department under separate registrations under this Act, that person shall not file each return that is due as a single return covering all such registered businesses but shall file separate returns for each such registered business.

If the electric vehicle power provider is a corporation, then the return filed on behalf of that corporation shall be signed by at least one of the following:

(1) the president of the corporation;

(2) the vice-president of the corporation;

(3) the secretary of the corporation;

(4) the treasurer of the corporation; or

(5) a properly accredited agent of the corporation.

An electric vehicle power provider that files a return under this Act shall, at the time of filing the return, pay to the Department the amount due under this Act, less a discount of 1.75%, not to exceed $1,000 per month, which is allowed to reimburse the electric vehicle power provider for the expenses incurred in keeping records, preparing and filing returns, remitting the fee, and supplying data to the Department on request.

If any payment provided for in this Section exceeds the person's liabilities under this Act, as shown on an original return, the Department may authorize the person to credit such excess payment against liability subsequently to be remitted to the Department under this Act, in accordance with reasonable rules adopted by the Department. If the Department subsequently determines that all or any part of the credit taken was not actually due to the person, the discount shall be reduced by an amount equal to the difference between the discount as applied to the credit taken and that actually due, and that person shall be liable for penalties and interest on such difference.

Section 25. Registration of electric vehicle power providers.

(a) A person who engages in business as an electric vehicle power provider in this State shall register with the Department. Application for a certificate of registration shall be made to the Department, by electronic means, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department and shall contain any reasonable information the Department may require. Upon receipt of the application for a certificate of registration in proper form and manner, the Department shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration. Electric vehicle power providers who demonstrate that they do not have access to the Internet or demonstrate hardship in applying electronically may petition the Department to waive the electronic application requirements.

(b) The Department may refuse to issue or reissue a certificate of registration to any applicant for the reasons set forth in Section 2505-380 of the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(c) Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Department under this Section may, within 20 days after notice of such decision, protest and request a hearing, whereupon the Department shall give notice to such person of the time and place fixed for such hearing and shall hold a hearing in conformity with the provisions of this Act and then issue its final administrative decision in the matter to such person. In the absence of such a protest within 20 days, the Department's decision shall become final without any further determination being made or notice given.

Section 30. Revocation of certificate of registration.

(a) The Department may, after notice and a hearing as provided in this Act, revoke the certificate of registration of an electric vehicle power provider who violates any of the provisions of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act. Before revocation of a certificate of registration, the Department shall, within 90 days after noncompliance and at least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing, give the electric vehicle power provider so accused notice in writing of the charge against him or her, and on the date designated shall conduct a hearing upon this matter. The lapse of such 90-day period shall not preclude the Department from conducting revocation proceedings at a later date if necessary. Any hearing held under this Section shall be conducted by the Director or by any officer or employee of the Department designated in writing by the Director.

(b) The Department may revoke a certificate of registration for the reasons set forth in Section 2505-380 of the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(c) Upon the hearing of any such proceeding, the Director or any officer or employee of the Department designated in writing by the Director may administer oaths, and the Department may procure by its subpoena the attendance of witnesses and, by its subpoena duces tecum, the production of relevant books and papers. Any circuit court, upon application either of the electric vehicle power provider or of the Department, may, by order duly entered, require the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers before the Department in any hearing relating to the revocation of certificates of registration. Upon refusal or neglect to obey the order of the court, the court may compel obedience with the order by proceedings for contempt.

(d) The Department may, by application to any circuit court, obtain an injunction requiring any person who engages in business as an electric vehicle power provider under this Act to obtain a certificate of registration. Upon refusal or neglect to obey the order of the court, the court may compel obedience by proceedings for contempt.

Section 35. Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Fund; creation; distribution of proceeds. The Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys in the Fund shall be used as provided in this Section:

(1) 80% of the moneys in the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Fund shall be transferred into the Road Fund and shall be used for highway maintenance, highway construction, bridge repair, congestion relief, and other highway needs;

(2) 20% of the moneys in the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Fund shall be used for projects related to public transportation capital needs in the State; of that 20%:

(A) 90% shall be transferred to the Regional Transportation Authority Capital Improvement Fund for use by the Regional Transportation Authority; and

(B) 10% shall be transferred to the Downstate Mass Transportation Capital Improvement Fund to be used by local mass transit districts other than the Regional Transportation Authority.

Section 900. The Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act is amended by changing Section 10 and by adding Section 36 as follows:

(630 ILCS 5/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Approved proposal" means the proposal that is approved by the responsible public entity pursuant to subsection (j) of Section 20 of this Act.

"Approved proposer" means the private entity whose proposal is the approved proposal.

"Authority" means the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

"Contractor" means a private entity that has entered into a public-private agreement with the responsible public entity to provide services to or on behalf of the responsible public entity.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"Design-build agreement" means the agreement between the selected private entity and the responsible public entity under which the selected private entity agrees to furnish design, construction, and related services for a transportation facility under this Act.

"Develop" or "development" means to do one or more of the following: plan, design, develop, lease, acquire, install, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, extend, or expand.

"Dynamic wireless charging" means electric vehicle charging by inductive charging, which allows electric vehicles to charge while in motion.

"Electric vehicle" means a motor vehicle of the first division that is propelled by an electric engine and does not use motor fuel.

"Maintain" or "maintenance" includes ordinary maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, capital maintenance, maintenance replacement, and any other categories of maintenance that may be designated by the responsible public entity.

"Operate" or "operation" means to do one or more of the following: maintain, improve, equip, modify, or otherwise operate.

"Private entity" means any combination of one or more individuals, corporations, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, joint ventures, business trusts, nonprofit entities, or other business entities that are parties to a proposal for a transportation project or an agreement related to a transportation project. A public agency may provide services to a contractor as a subcontractor or subconsultant without affecting the private status of the private entity and the ability to enter into a public-private agreement. A transportation agency is not a private entity.

"Proposal" means all materials and documents prepared by or on behalf of a private entity relating to the proposed development, financing, or operation of a transportation facility as a transportation project.

"Proposer" means a private entity that has submitted an unsolicited proposal for a public-private agreement to a responsible public entity under this Act or a proposal or statement of qualifications for a public-private agreement in response to a request for proposals or a request for qualifications issued by a responsible public entity under this Act.

"Public-private agreement" means the public-private agreement between the contractor and the responsible public entity relating to one or more of the development, financing, or operation of a transportation project that is entered into under this Act.

"Request for information" means all materials and documents prepared by or on behalf of the responsible public entity to solicit information from private entities with respect to transportation projects.

"Request for proposals" means all materials and documents prepared by or on behalf of the responsible public entity to solicit proposals from private entities to enter into a public-private agreement.

"Request for qualifications" means all materials and documents prepared by or on behalf of the responsible public entity to solicit statements of qualification from private entities to enter into a public-private agreement.

"Responsible public entity" means the Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and the 5 most populous counties of Illinois, as of the most recent publicly available decennial census.

"Revenues" means all revenues, including any combination of: income; earnings and interest; user fees; lease payments; allocations; federal, State, and local appropriations, grants, loans, lines of credit, and credit guarantees; bond proceeds; equity investments; service payments; or other receipts; arising out of or in connection with a transportation project, including the development, financing, and operation of a transportation project. The term includes money received as grants, loans, lines of credit, credit guarantees, or otherwise in aid of a transportation project from the federal government, the State, a unit of local government, or any agency or instrumentality of the federal government, the State, or a unit of local government.

"Shortlist" means the process by which a responsible public entity will review, evaluate, and rank statements of qualifications submitted in response to a request for qualifications and then identify the proposers who are eligible to submit a detailed proposal in response to a request for proposals. The identified proposers constitute the shortlist for the transportation project to which the request for proposals relates.

"Transportation agency" means (i) the Department or (ii) the Authority.

"Transportation facility" means any new or existing road, highway, toll highway, bridge, tunnel, intermodal facility, intercity or high-speed passenger rail, or other transportation facility or infrastructure, including the South Suburban Airport but excluding all other airports, under the jurisdiction of a responsible public entity, except those facilities for the Illiana Expressway. The term "transportation facility" may refer to one or more transportation facilities that are proposed to be developed or operated as part of a single transportation project.

"Transportation project" or "project" means any or the combination of the design, development, construction, financing, or operation with respect to all or a portion of any transportation facility under the jurisdiction of the responsible public entity, except those facilities for the Illiana Expressway, undertaken pursuant to this Act.

"Unit of local government" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Article VII, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois and also means any unit designated as a municipal corporation.

"Unsolicited proposal" means a written proposal that is submitted to a transportation agency on the initiative of the private sector entity or entities for the purpose of developing a partnership, and that is not in response to a formal or informal request issued by a transportation agency.

"User fees" or "tolls" means the rates, tolls, fees, or other charges imposed by the contractor for use of all or a portion of a transportation project under a public-private agreement.

(Source: P.A. 103-570, eff. 1-1-24; 103-864, eff. 8-9-24; 103-865, eff. 1-1-25; revised 10-9-24.)

(630 ILCS 5/36 new)

Sec. 36. Dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging pilot program.

(a) Any transportation project undertaken under this Act that includes the design, development, construction, or reconstruction of 20 lane miles or more of a roadway is required to include the construction of one lane mile of dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging within the roadway.

The number of lane miles shall be calculated by multiplying the number of lanes of roadway by the length of the project.

(b) The contractor shall design, fund, evaluate, iterate, test, and implement dynamic vehicle charging along a one-mile stretch of roadway. This will serve as a pilot program for Illinois. The program shall focus on nondisruptive designs that are compatible with existing infrastructure. Dynamic wireless charging lanes shall be compatible with the entire range of electric vehicles, including passenger, electric transit buses, fleet vehicles, and light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles. The contractor shall consider the performance, safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and interoperability in the development of the dynamic wireless charging lane.

(c) The contractor shall work closely with the responsible public agency and the Department throughout the design process and upon implementation to ensure smooth execution of the technology and appropriate communication to the traveling public.

(d) After the dynamic wireless charging lane has been in operation for one year, the contractor shall work with the Department and responsible public agency to evaluate the success, failure, and safety of the technology. Special consideration shall be given to the operation of dynamic vehicle charging in a variety of weather conditions and road maintenance activities.

Section 905. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is amended by adding Sections 5-45.61 and 5-45.62 as follows:

(5 ILCS 100/5-45.61 new)

Sec. 5-45.61. Emergency rulemaking; Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Act. To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Act, emergency rules implementing the Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Act may be adopted in accordance with Section 5-45 by the Department of Revenue. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

(5 ILCS 100/5-45.62 new)

Sec. 5-45.62. Emergency rulemaking; dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging pilot program. To provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of the dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging pilot program established in Section 36 of the Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act, emergency rules implementing that program may be adopted in accordance with Section 5-45 by the Department of Transportation. The adoption of emergency rules authorized by Section 5-45 and this Section is deemed to be necessary for the public interest, safety, and welfare.

Section 910. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1030 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new)

Sec. 5.1030. The Electric Vehicle Charging Fee Fund.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.