Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D) 15th District. | www.senatornapoleonharris.com
Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D) 15th District. | www.senatornapoleonharris.com
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a person who rents a motor vehicle to another may hold the renter liable for physical or mechanical damage to the rented motor vehicle that occurs during the time the motor vehicle is under the rental agreement as well as loss of use which stems from such damage."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow vehicle rental companies to hold renters liable for physical or mechanical damage to rented vehicles during the rental period and for any loss of use resulting from such damage. For vehicles with an MSRP of $50,000 or less that are stolen, renters' liability is capped at the actual and reasonable costs associated with the theft, up to $5,000. If the vehicle's MSRP exceeds $50,000, the cap is $40,000. However, if the renter fails to exercise ordinary care or is involved in the theft, damages may be up to the vehicle's market value. The bill also requires rental companies to provide estimates for repairs and give renters notice of changes to liability terms. Companies cannot charge renters in advance for damages and must mitigate damages where possible. The bill mandates insurance claims be submitted to the renter's insurer if coverage is confirmed. It includes notification requirements for renters regarding new regulations starting from Jan. 1, 2024.
Harris graduated from Northwestern University with a BA.
Napoleon Harris is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 15th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator James T. Meeks in 2013.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB1303 | 01/28/2025 | Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows a person who rents a motor vehicle to another may hold the renter liable for physical or mechanical damage to the rented motor vehicle that occurs during the time the motor vehicle is under the rental agreement as well as loss of use which stems from such damage. |
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