Illinois Rep. Deuter’s intelligent speed assistance bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Martha Deuter aims to create an intelligent speed assistance program requiring certain traffic offenders to use certified systems that limit vehicle speed, following approval in both chambers, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 71 Democrats and six Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 24 Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 39 Democrats and 10 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while nine Republicans voted against it.

Deuter introduced the bill in the Illinois House on Feb. 4, 2026 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as HB4948, was passed on May 20, 2026 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 Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program to supervise the installation and compliance of intelligent speed assistance systems. Sets forth requirements for the Secretary of State upon receipt of notice from a court that a person is required to enroll in the Program. Provides that a person enrolled in the Program shall install a certified intelligent speed assistance system on each motor vehicle owned by or registered to the person and shall not operate any motor vehicle that is not equipped with a functioning, certified intelligent speed assistance system. Provides that if a person fails to comply with the requirements of the Program, the Secretary may: suspend the person’s restricted driver’s license for a period and, following the period of suspension, permit the person to reenroll in the Program; revoke the person’s restricted driver’s license and prohibit the person from reenrolling in the Program; or impose a civil penalty. Provides that a person enrolled in the Program shall pay all costs associated with enrollment and participation in the Program, unless the person is found to be indigent. Provides that the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force shall certify intelligent speed assistance systems for use in the State and adopt rules and forms for the installation, maintenance, and certification of intelligent speed assistance systems. Sets forth requirements for selling or leasing intelligent speed assistance systems. Requires a manufacturer or distributor of an intelligent speed assistance system to provide support services. Prohibits a person from tampering with, or in any way attempting to circumvent, bypass, or tamper with the operation of, an intelligent speed assistance system that has been installed in a motor vehicle. Requires the Task Force to adopt rules and forms as are necessary to implement the Program. Makes conforming changes in the Code and in the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Effective January 1, 2027.”

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

In essence, this bill creates an Intelligent Speed Assistance Program, effective Jan. 1, 2027, that requires certain traffic offenders ordered by a court to install certified systems that automatically limit a vehicle’s speed to the posted limit on all vehicles they own or register and to drive only such equipped vehicles. The Secretary of State must suspend their regular license, issue a restricted license tied to program participation, and may suspend, revoke or fine for noncompliance. Participants generally pay program costs unless found indigent, with a fund helping low-income drivers. The Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force must certify systems, set technical, safety, data and support standards, oversee availability statewide, and adopt rules and warning labels. Tampering with a required system is a Class A misdemeanor.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Adriane Johnson (Democrat-30th District), Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (Democrat-22nd District), and Rep. Bob Morgan (Democrat-58th District), along with 18 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.

Deuter graduated from Ohio University in 1995 with a BSW.

Deuter, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 45th House District, replacing previous state representative Jenn Ladisch Douglass.