DeKalb Times

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) recently announced the passing of a bill that allows pregnant mothers an option to have a free vehicle place card, allowing them to park in handicap spaces throughout Illinois. 

House Bill 3027 allows women with an Illinois driver's license that show they have begun their third trimester that they'd receive a parking permit, free of charge, by visiting a driver facility that is controlled by the Secretary of State. 

"Each of us has had family members and friends experience the blessing of pregnancy, and we want them to enjoy every convenience along that journey," Keicher wrote in a Facebook post on Apr. 23. "Today the House passed a bill I co-sponsored to give expectant moms the option to obtain a free placard for their vehicle valid for 90 days permitting them to park in handicap designated spots throughout Illinois."

Keicher began serving in the House of Representatives in 2018, replacing former Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-IL). Keicher lives in Sycamore, Illinois, and was an insurance agent before serving in Congress. 

After approval from the House of Representatives, House Bill 3027 awaits confirmation from the Senate. 

“This is a small but worthwhile initiative to help make day-to-day life a little easier for our moms-to-be," Primary Sponsor Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Kane) said. "Nurturing a new life, particularly during the third trimester, can make it more difficult to get around. Consider, for example, how many expectant mothers [whom] work throughout snow and ice coverage through treacherous snow-and-ice-covered parking lots during winter to get to their job. This bill is a simple, common-sense idea to make Illinois more friendly for expectant moms.”

Wheeler served the 70th District from 2003 to 2018. He left the House of Representatives to serve on the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees. 

If House Bill 3027 makes its way through the Senate, it would be the first bill of its kind to tailor to easier parking for pregnant women.