---
type: "Bill"
title: "VEH CD-OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES"
description: "Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of an all-terrain vehicle to any motorized off-highway device designed to travel primarily off-highway, 50 inches or less in width, having a manufacturer's dry weight of 1,500 pounds or less (rather than 900 pounds or less), traveling on 3 or more non-highway tires (rather than low-pressure tires), designed with a seat or saddle for operator use, and handlebars or steering wheel for steering control, except equipment such as lawnmowers. Defines \"recreational off-road vehicle\" as any motorized off-highway device designed to travel primarily off-highway, 60 inches or less in width, having a manufacturer's dry weight of 1,500 pounds or less, traveling on 4 or more non-highway tires, designed with a non-straddle seat and a steering wheel for steering control, except equipment such as lawnmowers. Provides that all provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code that apply to an all-terrain vehicle shall apply the same to a recreational off-highway vehicle. Effective immediately."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "96th"
identifier: "SB 1897"
citation: "Illinois SB 1897 (96th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 30
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2009-02-20"
last_action: "2009-08-13"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/c1347347-d19e-4845-a398-9b7bfa987397"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1897&GAID=10&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=44792&SessionID=76&GA=96"
source_hash: "bb22cb763f203c4550a5f4e004ca7dbf22c8fbf9253f1e2f256b7457bc4971bf"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois SB 1897 (96th) — VEH CD-OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of an all-terrain vehicle to any motorized off-highway device designed to travel primarily off-highway, 50 inches or less in width, having a manufacturer's dry weight of 1,500 pounds or less (rather than 900 pounds or less), traveling on 3 or more non-highway tires (rather than low-pressure tires), designed with a seat or saddle for operator use, and handlebars or steering wheel for steering control, except equipment such as lawnmowers. Defines "recreational off-road vehicle" as any motorized off-highway device designed to travel primarily off-highway, 60 inches or less in width, having a manufacturer's dry weight of 1,500 pounds or less, traveling on 4 or more non-highway tires, designed with a non-straddle seat and a steering wheel for steering control, except equipment such as lawnmowers. Provides that all provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code that apply to an all-terrain vehicle shall apply the same to a recreational off-highway vehicle. Effective immediately.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600SB1897&GA=96&SessionId=76&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=44792&DocNum=1897&GAID=10&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600SB1897eng&GA=96&SessionId=76&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=44792&DocNum=1897&GAID=10&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600SB1897enr&GA=96&SessionId=76&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=44792&DocNum=1897&GAID=10&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **102–3** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **59–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- William R. Haine — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2009-02-20** Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine `filing`
- **2009-02-20** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2009-02-20** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2009-03-04** Assigned to Environment `referral-committee`
- **2009-03-09** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. William R. Haine `amendment-introduction`
- **2009-03-09** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2009-03-10** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Environment
- **2009-03-11** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2009-03-12** Do Pass as Amended Environment; 008-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2009-03-12** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 17, 2009
- **2009-03-13** Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dale E. Risinger
- **2009-03-24** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2009-03-24** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 25, 2009
- **2009-04-01** Third Reading - Passed; 059-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2009-04-01** Arrived in House `introduction`
- **2009-04-01** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading `reading-1`
- **2009-04-01** Chief House Sponsor Rep. Frank J. Mautino
- **2009-04-01** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2009-04-01** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2009-04-14** Assigned to Vehicles & Safety Committee `referral-committee`
- **2009-04-22** Do Pass / Short Debate Vehicles & Safety Committee; 005-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2009-04-22** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2009-04-23** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2009-04-23** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2009-05-18** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 102-003-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2009-05-18** Passed Both Houses
- **2009-06-16** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2009-08-13** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2009-08-13** Effective Date August 13, 2009
- **2009-08-13** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0428 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/c1347347-d19e-4845-a398-9b7bfa987397`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).