HB3839 would require the Illinois Department of Transportation to install Level II electric vehicle charging stations at every rest stop on every interstate highway in the state. It would also allow IDOT, if approved by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, to add direct current fast-charging stations at those rest stops and to charge fees for fast charging only in an amount needed to cover the state’s construction, maintenance, and electricity costs. The bill also directs IDOT to adopt rules to implement these requirements, including a limit on Level II charging of no more than two consecutive hours per person, verified by a driver’s license or other state-issued ID.
To fund the program, the bill creates the EV Charging Station Fund in the State Treasury. Money in the fund would be used by IDOT for installation, maintenance, electricity procurement, and related costs for charging stations at highway rest stops. The bill also amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to raise the annual additional fee for electric vehicle registration from $100 to $150, with $50 of that amount deposited into the new fund and the remainder continuing to support existing transportation accounts. In effect, the measure expands statewide EV charging infrastructure while shifting part of the cost to EV owners through a higher registration fee.
Impact
HB3839 would amend the Department of Transportation Law, the State Finance Act, and the Illinois Vehicle Code. It would create a new statutory mandate for IDOT to provide EV charging at interstate rest stops, establish a dedicated special fund for those costs, and increase the annual EV registration surcharge. The bill would affect the state transportation system, EV drivers, and the funding structure for road and charging infrastructure by earmarking a portion of vehicle registration revenue for charging station deployment and operation.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a pro-EV infrastructure policy approach, with an emphasis on expanding charging access along interstate travel corridors and using a user-fee model to help finance the program.
Contention
The main likely points of contention are the mandate to install charging stations at every interstate rest stop, the cost to the state of building and maintaining the network, and the increase in the electric vehicle registration fee from $100 to $150. Supporters would likely emphasize statewide EV access, travel convenience, and infrastructure readiness, while critics may object to the higher fee on EV owners, the administrative burden on IDOT, and the requirement to implement charging at all rest stops regardless of local demand. The bill also depends on federal approval for fast-charging stations at rest stops, which could be another practical concern.