Illinois Sen. Lewis cycle rider safety training bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Sen. Seth Lewis aims to enhance cycle rider safety training by redefining eligible providers and establishing requirements for course offerings and grant funding, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 74 Democrats and 40 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 35 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Lewis introduced the bill in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 6, 2025 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as SB2075, was passed on May 31, 2025 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. Removes motor driven cycle and moped from the definition of “cycle”. Defines “Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Provider” and “Provider” as a for-profit or nonprofit business, community agency, community organization, community college, or State university that is capable of providing courses. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall put out notices to the public seeking Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers to provide courses in the State, and that such courses shall be open to all residents of the State who hold a currently valid driver’s license and who have reached their 16th birthday before the first day of the course to be held. Allows providers to charge a nominal registration fee set by the Department. Provides that responses from potential providers shall include the location where classes are to be held at, the number of students they intend to train, whether they would be providing motorcycles or using motorcycles owned by the Department, and the cost for courses provided on a per student basis. Provides that contracts shall be awarded by the Department to providers based on training needs and cost effectiveness of each bid or proposal. Provides that a provider shall only be paid grant funds under one of the following conditions: a course was held; expenses submitted related to the maintenance of department owned equipment; or submitting other non-personnel expenses. Provides that a provider awarded a contract with grant funding shall: submit proof that each instructor employed by the provider meets the qualifications to teach the curriculum for the courses; have at least one employee on staff certified to do quality assurance or quality control visits where instructors are evaluated per curriculum standards on teaching; perform at least one quality assurance or quality control visit on each instructor employed during the year and submit the results of those visits to the Department; maintain appropriate liability insurance to cover training activities; submit requests for payment in a timely manner; and adhere to additional program rules and regulations. Prohibits a provider awarded a contract with grant funding from adopting any policy, requirement, or expectation regarding employee’s manner of dress outside of the employee’s scheduled work hours. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill authorizes the Illinois Department of Transportation to adopt emergency rules for the swift implementation of amendments to the Cycle Rider Safety Training Act. These amendments redefine the entities eligible to serve as Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers, excluding motorcycle dealers and businesses selling motorcycles. The bill mandates the department to publicly solicit potential providers to offer courses to Illinois residents with valid driver’s licenses aged 16 and older. Providers may charge a refundable registration fee upon course completion. Contracts will consider training needs, cost-effectiveness, and the provider’s capacity. The bill specifies conditions under which providers may receive grant funds, including per-student payments, equipment-related expenses, and other approved costs. It also outlines a provider’s obligation to maintain liability insurance, inspect instructors, and adhere to program rules, prohibiting policies on employees’ attire outside working hours. The bill is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Amy L. Grant (Republican-47th District), Sen. Andrew S. Chesney (Republican-45th District), and Rep. Brad Halbrook (Republican-107th District), along with 64 other sponsors.

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.

Lewis graduated from the University of Iowa in 1991 with a BS.

Lewis, a Republican, was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 24th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Suzy Glowiak.

Lawmakers listed as “Not Voting” were present for the vote but did not cast a vote. Those marked as having an “Excused Absence” were not present and formally provided a reason for their absence, which was accepted.

While the final vote determined the bill’s passage, lawmakers in both chambers held an additional vote related to a concurrence. This earlier vote is included below for context.