# Illinois HB1609: PROP TX-NATURAL PRESERVATION

Illinois HB1609, PROP TX-NATURAL PRESERVATION, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by Maura Hirschauer (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-04-07 (Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB1609-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB1609
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: PROP TX-NATURAL PRESERVATION
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-23
- Last action: 2025-04-07, Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh
- Sponsor: Maura Hirschauer (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: revenue & finance
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of assessment, property registered in perpetuity with the register of areas under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is considered to be encumbered by a public easement and shall be depreciated to a level at which its value is $5 per acre, and any improvement, dwelling, or other appurtenant structure present on that land shall be valued at 33 1/3% of its fair cash value. Provides that a conservation right on land preserving a habitat for plant and animal species that are native to Illinois (currently, State or federal endangered or threatened species or federal candidate species) is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit. Provides that a conservation right on land located adjacent to a park, conservation area, nature preserve, or other land or water area that is publicly owned or otherwise permanently protected for conservation purposes is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit if the conservation right on that land furthers the conservation purposes of the adjacent protected area. Effective immediately.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Maura Hirschauer (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Hoan Huynh (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michelle Mussman (Democratic), House

## Actions (8)

- 2025-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh (House)
- 2025-03-21: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-03-03: To Property Tax Subcommittee (House)
- 2025-02-20: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman (House)
- 2025-02-18: Assigned to Revenue & Finance Committee (House)
- 2025-01-28: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-01-28: First Reading (House)
- 2025-01-23: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Maura Hirschauer (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB1609.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB1609.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB1609-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).