SB 2493 -WILDLIFE-DEER BAIT-Illinois 100th General Assembly

Governor Rauner has vetoed this bill (known as the Deer Feed Bill) 

**Latest Update** September 25, 2018

Here is his veto message which addresses his decision: 

Today, I veto Senate Bill 2493, which would direct the University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute to conduct a study on the health and social effects of supplemental deer feeding on the wild deer population outside of deer hunting season.

There is significant controversy within the conservation and wildlife professions as well as among the general public over the real and perceived positive and negative impacts of supplemental feeding of wild animals, and the scale on which these practices are used.

However, this subject needs further discussion to better define the scope and aims of such a study. It should include more flexibility for experts to exercise their judgment and further involvement by the Department of Natural Resources. We should ensure that any research fully considers the health impacts on the Illinois deer population.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 2493, entitled “AN ACT concerning wildlife,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

This bill now moves onto Veto Session scheduled for November 13th.  At this time the General Assembly may vote to override this veto. 

Read more about the bill here.

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Update as of 5/17/18

Senate Sponsors
Sen.  Chapin Rose

Filed: SB 2493 on 1/31/2018

Latest Action:  Vetoed by the Governor, Veto Message

2nd Amendment
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the University of Illinois Act. Provides that the University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute shall, subject to appropriation and in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, conduct a study for a period of at least 5 years on the health and social effects of supplemental deer feeding on the wild deer population outside of any Illinois deer hunting season and whether supplemental deer feeding affects the risk of disease transmission in the deer population. Requires the University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine to submit the study's findings and any recommendations to the Department of Natural Resources, to be posted on its Internet website, and the General Assembly in a report no more than 180 days after the completion of the study.

Amendment Filed : 5/17/18

New AMENDMENT

AMENDMENT NO. ___#1__. Amend Senate Bill 2493 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following: "Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by adding Section 12.10 as follows:


Supplemental deer food; study. The University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute shall, subject to appropriation and in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, conduct a study for a period of at least 5 years on the health effects of supplemental deer feeding on the wild deer population outside of any Illinois deer hunting season and whether supplemental deer feeding affects the risk of disease transmission in the deer population. The study shall include a social study for a period of at least 5 years to measure the social impacts of supplemental deer feeding. For the purpose of this study, supplemental deer feeding shall include mixtures that are commonly used to feed wildlife with a mineral component or commercial feed. The study shall be conducted in areas within this State that are south of Illinois State Route 36. During the study, supplemental deer feeding shall be permitted on private land in the geographic boundaries established for the study. The University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine shall submit the study's findings and any recommendations to the Department of Natural Resources, to be posted on its Internet website, and the General Assembly in a report no more than 180 days after the completion of the study. The report to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and Secretary shall direct.".


Amendment Filed: 4/20/2018

"Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by adding Section 13 as follows: (110 ILCS 305/13 new) Sec. 13. Supplemental deer food; study. The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, subject to appropriation and in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources, shall conduct a study for a period of at least 2 years of the health effects of supplemental deer feeding on the wild deer population and whether supplemental feeding affects the spread of any communicable diseases within the deer population. The study shall also designate geographical locations where the practice of supplemental deer feeding may be beneficial. The University of Illinois College Veterinary of Medicine shall submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly in report no more than 60 days after the completion of the study. The report to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.".

Synopsis As Introduced:Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a person may supplementally feed deer with items otherwise prohibited by the Code when not in active deer hunting season which shall be implemented by the Department of Natural Resources by rule.




Bill Status: 

• 1/31/2018 Senate Filed with Secretary by Sen. Chapin Rose
• 1/31/2018 Senate First Reading 
• 1/31/2018 Senate Referred to Assignments
• 2/7/2018 Senate Assigned to Agriculture
• 4/12/2018 Senate Do Pass Agriculture; 010-000-000
• 4/12/2018 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 17, 2018
• 4/20/2018 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Chapin Rose
• 4/20/2018 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
• 4/23/2018 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Agriculture
• 4/25/2018 Senate Second Reading
• 4/25/2018 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 26, 2018
• 4/26/2018 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Agriculture; 008-000-000
• 4/27/2018 Senate Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 3, 2018
• 5/1/2018 Senate Recalled to Second Reading
• 5/1/2018 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Rose
• 5/1/2018 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
• 5/1/2018 Senate Third Reading - Passed; 050-001-000
• 5/2/2018 House Arrived in House
• 5/2/2018 House Chief House Sponsor Rep. Brad Halbrook
• 5/8/2018 House First Reading
• 5/8/2018 House Referred to Rules Committee
• 5/8/2018 House Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
• 5/15/2018 House Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond
• 5/15/2018 House Do Pass / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 012-001-000
• 5/17/2018 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
• 5/17/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jerry Costello, II
• 5/17/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
• 5/18/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
• 5/21/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jerry Costello, II
• 5/21/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
• 5/22/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
• 5/23/2018 House Second Reading - Short Debate
• 5/23/2018 House Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
• 5/24/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 010-001-000
• 5/24/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
• 5/24/2018 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
• 5/25/2018 House Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. LaToya Greenwood
• 5/25/2018 House Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 082-028-001
• 5/25/2018 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40
• 5/25/2018 House Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe

Illinois DNR Newsbits for February 2018

 With the integration of Historic Preservation into the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Newsbits into the future will have a lot of events that may not always interest you.  However, I challenge you all to try and attend some of these events to enjoy all of what the IDNR has to offer here in Illinois.  

Illinois DNR Newsbits for February 2018

Spring Turkey Applications: Hunters can apply for the third lottery for 2018 Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Season permits by the application deadline of Feb. 9. Go to the IDNR website for more information: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/TurkeyHunting.aspx

Illinois Legislator Pledge for the Outdoors

Share this with your legislator, friends, family and #BeAVoicefortheOutdoors.  The change starts now!

*Scroll down for pledge.  Just right click and save as and let's get this pledge passed around! 

To all Illinois Legislators, 

For far too long hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts have been put on the back burner by our legislators. The lack of funding within the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has put a strain on our state parks, conservation efforts and our ability to grow as an industry.

We are not going to point fingers at who is to blame. Why? Because Illinois' Natural Resources are enjoyed by all of Illinois' constitutes; Republicans and Democrats; all races, all genders and all religions. If we sit here and blame each other, nothing will be solved. We are taking a stand to inform you, our legislators, during this election cycle, that we are no longer sitting idly by. We are sick of the excuses that we have heard for over a decade and we want action!
We understand that our state is in the red when it comes to finances and there is no easy solution to get us out of it. We have heard over and over again that there is no funding available to the IDNR and we understand the politics that come into play when allocating funds. For example, Agriculture, Human Services, Pensions, Transportation and the list goes on. There is no easy fix to this budget crisis, however your constitutes that hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors are apprehensive about the future of our state's natural resources.

Legislators need to look at the IDNR as an investment decision, not an overnight solution. Just look at these two areas in Illinois; Lake Shelbyville and Rend Lake. These are two areas that have an abundance of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreational opportunities that are not living up to their potential. Don't just take our word for it, talk to the legislators that represent these areas to see what our state is missing out on.

Current and past Directors of the IDNR can only do some much with the inadequate funding that you as legislators give them. Doing more with less only gets you so far.

It's time to capitalize on what Illinois can offer the nation. We are home to Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, the Illinois River and hundreds of lakes and other tributaries, you as legislators don't take advantage of. By investing in our state parks, our fisheries and our wildlife management you can increase tourism and economic development by bringing hunters, anglers, bird watchers and the like from other states. These are hunters that will hunt on our land, anglers who will fish our lakes, bird watchers who will enjoy our state parks. All of these people will buy gas at our gas stations, stay at hotels in our cities and go out to dinner at our local restaurants.

We write this letter to inform you that there are options available, you just have to be willing to work with those that utilize the natural resources. Be open minded about sitting down with groups, organizations and those that hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors in this state to see what solutions they have. These are your boots on the ground, they know the issues affecting their region or area just as well as those working within the agency.

We understand that your job is a difficult one and that there is no quick or easy solution, however the days of excuses from our legislators and those of power will no longer be accepted by the outdoor community.

Enclosed, is a pledge that we are asking, you, as a legislator, to sign to show your constitutes; the hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts of this state, that you are serious about dedicating time, energy and resources into improving the quality of state parks, conservation efforts and more within the IDNR. By signing this pledge, you are showing a willingness to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

HB 4231 - Blaze Pink Clothing - Illinois 100th General Assembly

House Sponsors
Rep. Dave Severin
Filed: HB 4231 on 1/16/2018

Final Action
Passed Both Chambers
Senate:  058-000-000
House: 111-000-000

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Wildlife Code. Authorizes certain hunters to wear solid blaze pink colored clothing (in addition to blaze orange colored clothing).


Last Action:
Bill Passed Both Houses and now moves onto the Governor 

Bill Status:

• 1/9/2018 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Dave Severin
• 1/16/2018 House First Reading
• 1/16/2018 House Referred to Rules Committee
• 3/5/2018 House Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
• 4/9/2018 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jerry Costello, II
• 4/9/2018 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Terri Bryant
• 4/9/2018 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie Phelps Finnie
• 4/9/2018 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Monica Bristow
• 4/9/2018 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony McCombie
• 4/9/2018 House Do Pass / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 017-000-000
• 4/10/2018 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
• 4/12/2018 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons
• 4/13/2018 House Second Reading - Short Debate
• 4/13/2018 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
• 4/17/2018 House Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 111-000-000
• 4/17/2018 Senate Arrive in Senate
• 4/17/2018 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 18, 2018
• 4/25/2018 Senate Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Neil Anderson
• 4/25/2018 Senate First Reading
• 4/25/2018 Senate Referred to Assignments
• 5/1/2018 Senate Assigned to Agriculture
• 5/10/2018 Senate Do Pass Agriculture; 009-000-000
• 5/10/2018 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 15, 2018
• 5/16/2018 Senate Second Reading
• 5/16/2018 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 17, 2018
• 5/23/2018 Senate Third Reading - Passed; 058-000-000
• 5/23/2018 House Passed Both Houses

HB 4279-DNR-RECREATIONAL BOAT FUNDING - Illinois 100th General Assembly

House Sponsors
Rep. Jerry Costello, II

Filed: HB 4279 on 1/18/2018

Synopsis As Introduced:Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources has the authority to accept, receive, and administer on behalf of the State, federal grant funds associated with the development or preservation of recreational boating infrastructure on this State's waterways and distribute those funds as prescribed by the appropriate federal agency. Provides that funds received by the Department shall be deposited into the Natural Resources Federal Boating Infrastructure Grant Dollars Fund and used for these purposes. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act.

Last Actions:

• 1/18/2018 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jerry Costello, II
• 1/19/2018 House First Reading
• 1/19/2018 House Referred to Rules Committee
• 2/5/2018 House Assigned to Revenue & Finance Committee
• 2/14/2018 House To Growth, Reform & Fairness Subcommittee
• 3/1/2018 House Recommends Do Pass Subcommittee/ Revenue & Finance Committee; 004-000-000
• 3/1/2018 House Reported Back To Revenue & Finance Committee;
• 3/1/2018 House Do Pass / Short Debate Revenue & Finance Committee; 008-000-000
• 3/1/2018 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
• 3/6/2018 House Second Reading - Short Debate
• 3/6/2018 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
• 3/7/2018 House Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 106-000-000
• 3/7/2018 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jerry Lee Long
• 3/7/2018 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Christian L. Mitchell
• 3/7/2018 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. David A. Welter
• 3/9/2018 Senate Arrive in Senate
• 3/9/2018 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
• 3/9/2018 Senate Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Chris Nybo
• 3/9/2018 Senate First Reading
• 3/9/2018 Senate Referred to Assignments