SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., D-Elwood, to help save taxpayer dollars and ensure motorists continue receiving vehicle registration reminders in the mail recently passed the House.

“Many drivers are used to receiving vehicle registration reminders and it’s important we take steps to protect this valuable service,” Walsh said. “I applaud the Secretary of State on finding new ways to generate revenue to cover the costs of mailing these important reminders without raising taxes.”

Walsh is sponsoring House Bill 394, which would allow the Secretary of State’s office to offset the cost of vehicle registration reminders by including small advertisements on the letters. According to the Secretary, the reminder mailings cost taxpayers approximately $450,000 a month in postage. Walsh’s bill will give the Secretary of State financial flexibility during the ongoing budget crisis to ensure these reminders continue being mailed out.

In October 2015, vehicle registration reminders were discontinued due to the budget crisis. Mail reminders were reinstated August 2016 after the passage of a stopgap budget. Walsh also supported a new law last year waving late fees for drivers who didn’t receive a registration reminder in the mail and failed to renew their registration.

Walsh is also encouraging drivers to sign up for email vehicle registration reminders at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

“Seniors will especially benefit from this bill, because for many of them, the only way they have ever been reminded to renew their vehicle registration is by mail,” Walsh said. “Giving flexibility to accommodate residents who are not as technologically savvy by sending reminders in the mail will help older residents living on a fixed income avoid costly late fees.”

House Bill 394 passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and now moves onto the Senate for further consideration.