Illinois legislation · 104th General Assembly
Illinois HB4279: PASSENGER RAIL PLANNING ACT
Status: In committee, October 6, 2026
Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercity passenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires the Department of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequencies into the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan. Authorizes the Department to nominate corridors for inclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program and enter into memoranda of understanding or other cooperative agreements for each identified interstate corridor to provide for shared data, joint investment prioritization, and aligned performance measures and planning schedules. Requires the Department to include a recurring section titled Progress Toward High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail within each update to the Illinois State Rail Plan and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. Requires each Metropolitan Planning Organization in the State to: (1) recognize the target intercity and long-distance passenger rail frequencies; (2) identify relevant rail corridors within or adjacent to the Metropolitan Planning Organization planning area; and (3) include a narrative discussion of how regional transportation investments can support achievement of those frequency targets. Requires the Department and each Metropolitan Planning Organization to consider progress toward the target passenger rail frequencies when developing project prioritization criteria for multimodal investments. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.
What the bill says
A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4279Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Rita Mayfield and Kam BucknerSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercitypassenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires theDepartment of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequenciesinto the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range StatewideTransportation Plan…
From the introduced text, January 5, 2026:
A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4279Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Rita Mayfield and Kam BucknerSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercitypassenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires theDepartment of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequenciesinto the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range StatewideTransportation Plan. Authorizes the Department to nominate corridors forinclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identificationand Development Program and enter into memoranda of understanding or othercooperative agreements for each identified interstate corridor to providefor shared data, joint investment prioritization, and aligned performancemeasures and planning schedules. Requires the Department to include arecurring section titled Progress Toward High-Speed and IntercityPassenger Rail within each update to the Illinois State Rail Plan andStatewide Transportation Improvement Program. Requires each MetropolitanPlanning Organization in the State (2) identify relevant railcorridors within or adjacent to the Metropolitan Planning Organizationplanning area; and (3) include a narrative discussion of how regionaltransportation investments can support achievement of those frequencytargets. Requires the Department and each Metropolitan PlanningOrganization to consider progress toward the target passenger railfrequencies when developing project prioritization criteria for multimodalinvestments. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately. LRB104 16936 LNS 30350 b LRB104 16936 LNS 30350 b LRB104 16936 LNS 30350 b A BILL FOR HB4279LRB104 16936 LNS 30350 b …
Sponsors
- Rita Mayfield (D, 60) · primary sponsor
- Eva-Dina Delgado (D, 3)
- Kam Buckner (D, 26)
- Debbie Meyers-Martin (D, 38)
- La Shawn K. Ford (D, 8)
- Joyce Mason (D, 61)
- Will Guzzardi (D, 39)
- Dagmara Avelar (D, 85)
- Lindsey LaPointe (D, 19)
- Theresa Mah (D, 24)
- Kimberly Du Buclet (D, 5)
- Laura Faver Dias (D, 62)
Latest actions
- : Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
- : Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
- : Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
- : House Committee Amendment No. 3 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- : House Committee Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- : House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- : Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- : Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ryan Spain
- : House Committee Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges
- : House Committee Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges
Subjects: New Act
Common questions
- What is HB4279?
- HB4279 is a bill in the Illinois Legislature (104th General Assembly): PASSENGER RAIL PLANNING ACT.
- What does HB4279 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026HB4279Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Rita Mayfield and Kam BucknerSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Passenger Rail Planning Act. Sets forth intercitypassenger rail routes serving or originating in the State. Requires theDepartment of Transportation to incorporate the aspirational frequenciesinto the Illinois State Rail Plan and the Long-Range StatewideTransportation Plan…
- What is the status of HB4279?
- In committee as of October 6, 2026. Latest action: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman (October 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB4279?
- Rita Mayfield (D, 60), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB4279?
- On the Illinois Legislature website: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4279&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114
Source: official Illinois record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.