Illinois lawmakers have approved a bill that would eliminate regular mandatory road testing for drivers who are under 87 years old and create a system for family members to report relatives who they feel are no longer fit to be behind the wheel, regardless of their age.

The measure backed by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias passed the Illinois Senate Thursday by a 57-0 vote, after unanimous passage by the House last month.

The bill now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker, who “will review it when it gets to his desk,” a spokesperson said.

Illinois has some of the strictest testing requirements in the nation for older drivers, and it’s one of only a few that don’t offer a way for families to report safety concerns about relatives’ driving ability.

Current law requires drivers who are 79 or 80 to take a vision test and a behind-the-wheel exam to renew their licenses. From age 81 to 86, they have to test every two years, and after that it’s every year.

As the law stands, only law enforcement agencies and medical officials can flag the Secretary of State’s office about drivers they don’t think should be on the road anymore.

Giannoulias’ bipartisan bill calls for drivers age 79 or 80 to take a vision test at a DMV to renew their license, but not a road test. Such renewals would be required every two years from age 81 to 86. Road tests would come with annual renewals starting at age 87.

It also allows immediate relatives — spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings or children — to request the secretary of state’s office review drivers they think have any condition that “interferes with the person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.”

Reports deemed credible could require the driver to take written, vision and behind-the-wheel tests to keep their license.

Mandatory testing in Illinois started at age 75 before a temporary increase implemented early in the COVID-19 pandemic was made permanent. Critics have derided the requirement as discriminatory against against seniors , whom studies have suggested are safer on the road than younger drivers.

In 2024, the crash rate for Illinois drivers 75 or older was about 25 per 1,000 drivers, lower than every other age range, according to a state analysis.

“I cannot tell you the number of phone calls I received in my office from seniors — some of them in tears — who felt they were being unfairly targeted and discriminated against when they had stellar driving records,” said co-sponsoring state Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles.

In a statement, AARP Illinois spokesman Jeff Scott said the legislation offers “hope and renewed independence to thousands of older drivers who have been unfairly impacted.”

If Pritzker signs the bill into law, it’ll take effect in July 2026.