# Illinois HB1873: PUBLIC ACCESS-NAVIGABLE WATERS

Illinois HB1873, PUBLIC ACCESS-NAVIGABLE WATERS, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by Janet Yang Rohr (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-04-03 (Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB1873-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB1873
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: PUBLIC ACCESS-NAVIGABLE WATERS
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-29
- Last action: 2025-04-03, Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
- Sponsor: Janet Yang Rohr (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: energy & environment
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters includes all rights recognized by State or federal law, including the rights set forth in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the federal navigational servitude, and all rights arising under the public trust doctrine, which shall be understood and applied in a manner consistent with the spirit of the Act to maximize the full and free enjoyment of State waters by the public. Provides that any segment of a lake, river, or stream that is capable of supporting use by commercial or recreational watercraft for a substantial part of the year, or that is actually so used, shall be deemed navigable, and shall be open to public access and use, unless the contrary is proven in litigation by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that public uses in such waters shall include boating, tubing, fishing, swimming, and wading. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to protect such public uses against interference or encroachment as provided in the Act. Provides that no action or inaction by the Department of Natural Resources shall create a presumption, in any civil or criminal litigation, against the navigability of any waterway segment. Provides that the public right to access and use navigable waters shall be subject to specified protections and limitations, a violation of which shall be punished as otherwise provided by law, and, if likely to continue, enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Provides that nothing in the Act shall limit the right of any person to challenge the legality of alleged interference with the public right to access or use navigable waters in any appropriate civil or criminal litigation.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Janet Yang Rohr (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anna Moeller (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anne Stava (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Didech (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Harry Benton (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kelly M. Cassidy (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robert "Bob" Rita (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Suzanne M. Ness (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terra Costa Howard (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Will Guzzardi (Democratic), House

## Actions (16)

- 2025-04-03: Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer (House)
- 2025-04-03: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer (House)
- 2025-03-31: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (House)
- 2025-03-21: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-03-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi (House)
- 2025-03-05: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard (House)
- 2025-03-05: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness (House)
- 2025-03-05: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller (House)
- 2025-03-05: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Benton (House)
- 2025-03-05: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava (House)
- 2025-03-03: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech (House)
- 2025-02-26: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita (House)
- 2025-02-25: Assigned to Energy & Environment Committee (House)
- 2025-01-29: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2025-01-29: First Reading (House)
- 2025-01-29: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB1873.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/10400HB1873.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-HB1873-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).