A new law in Illinois will change the requirements for older drivers renewing their licenses. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 1226, known as the Road Safety and Fairness Act, into law on August 15. The legislation increases the age at which mandatory road tests are required for license renewal from 79 to 87.
The bill was supported by State Representative Jeff Keicher, a Republican from Sycamore who was elected to represent Illinois’ 70th House District in 2018, succeeding Robert W. Pritchard.
Keicher stated that the bill was developed over several years and was first introduced as House Bill 4431 in 2024 but did not reach a vote despite bipartisan support. He noted that in the past year, lawmakers worked with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office to advance the legislation.
“Keicher says at the end of the day, it’s about making sure seniors are given a fair chance at proving their ability to operate a motor vehicle.”
