HB3262 Summary

• Amends the Public Water District Act to authorize public water districts and non-profit private water companies to construct water mains in highways, streets, and public grounds, provided the appropriate highway authority grants written consent under Section 9-113 of the Illinois Highway Code.

• Modifies the Illinois Highway Code to require utilities to obtain written consent from the appropriate highway authority before locating equipment upon, under, or along any highway, with specific restrictions for non-toll federal-aid fully access-controlled State highways.

• Establishes that highway authorities may charge reasonable compensation for utility use of non-toll federal-aid fully access-controlled State highway right-of-way, with fees based on fair market value of an easement and reviewable every 5 years.

• Creates new subsection (l-2) providing that consent granted to public water districts under the Public Water District Act is binding on all fee owners of the highway property and relieves the water district from obtaining separate approval from fee owners.

• Adds coordination requirements for State and county highway authorities to establish 5-year programs, annual programs, and coordination councils with utility participation to manage utility removal, relocation, or modification needs.