Lake County Gazette

Senator Dan McConchie announced, "The Senate has just passed Senate Bill 3323, which makes accessible EV chargers the standard here in the state." As a wheelchair user himself, McConchie shared his personal experiences with the current state of EV chargers in a recent Facebook post.

"Did you know that EV chargers, like these here do not have to be accessible," said Daniel Mcconchie, State Senator, according to Facebook. "The Illinois Senate has just passed Senate Bill 3323, which makes accessible EV chargers the standard here in the state. It passed in the Senate on a vote of 58 to nothing. Hopefully in the next few weeks, accessible chargers will be the standard here in Illinois and a model for the rest of the country."

On May 3, McConchie reposted an overview of the bill from the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus on his Facebook page. The post read, "Senate Bill 3323, sponsored by State Senator Dan McConchie, mandates that all electric vehicle charging stations are readily accessible, spaced adequately, equipped with longer charging cords, and meet technical standards to ensure accessibility for all. While gas stations in America are accessible for most people with disabilities, current laws overlook EV chargers. The proposed legislation would ensure all EV charging stations are designed to be independently usable by individuals with disabilities."

Screenshot of Sen. Dan McConchie's May 1 reel | Sen. Dan McConchie's Facebook page

According to the Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) website focusing on the bill, Senate Bill 3323 "Requires the Department of Transportation to ensure that charging stations in the State are sufficiently accessible to allow independent use by drivers with disabilities, including people who have limited or no hand dexterity, limb differences or upper extremity amputations and use adaptive driving controls. Requires chargers designed to serve people who use mobility devices to be located on an accessible route. Provides that the Department shall adopt the technical requirements for accessible routes established under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the federal Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) including walking surfaces, curb ramps and ramps. Establishes that a charging space with mobility features must provide a vehicle space with a minimum width of at least 11 feet and a minimum length of at least 20 feet."

The bill further stipulates that chargers must have clear ground space and floor to meet ADA requirements, including criteria for firmness, stability and slip resistance. The Department of Transportation is tasked with determining a reasonable number of chargers. Additionally, individuals must be able to use a connector with one hand and no more than five pounds of force.

McConchie filed the bill on Feb. 7, 2024, and it passed the Senate on April 18. It moved to the House of Representatives the same day and has been assigned to the Judiciary- Civil Committee, as of April 30.

McConchie has been serving the people of the 26th District since 2016. According to his official senate biography, he is an energy consultant with Verde Solutions. He previously served in the Army National Guard and worked for two decades in public affairs for national advocacy groups. He also spent two years at Trinity International University as an adjunct professor, teaching graduate-level bioethics and public policy courses. McConchie resides in Hawthorn Woods with his wife.