# Illinois HB4291: WILDLIFE CD-UAV TRACKING

Illinois HB4291, WILDLIFE CD-UAV TRACKING, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by Norine K. Hammond (Republican); status in committee, last action 2026-03-27 (Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4291-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB4291
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: WILDLIFE CD-UAV TRACKING
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-06
- Last action: 2026-03-27, Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
- Sponsor: Norine K. Hammond (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: agriculture & conservation
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that tracking wounded wild birds or wounded wild mammals by use of unmanned aircraft is permissible under certain conditions, including that: (1) the wild bird or wild mammal is wounded when a properly licensed hunter has struck the animal with a projectile fired from a legal hunting device during the open season; (2) any person operating the unmanned aircraft has obtained permission from the public or private landowner, or the landowner's authorized representative, before launching or landing the unmanned aircraft from or on the landowner's property; (3) the person operating the unmanned aircraft does not possess or control a firearm, bow, or other implement whereby wildlife could be killed or taken while afield, whether acting singly or as a group of persons while the unmanned aircraft is in flight, except this prohibition does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a concealed firearm under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act if the concealed firearm is not used to take wildlife; and (4) the unmanned aircraft is operated in a manner that does not harass any wildlife. Exempts an operator of an unmanned aircraft that meets these conditions from hunting permit requirements if the operator is not the taker of the wounded animal. Effective July 1, 2027.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Norine K. Hammond (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Charles Meier (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dan Swanson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Wayne A. Rosenthal (Republican), House

## Actions (8)

- 2026-03-27: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-03-20: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles Meier (House)
- 2026-03-20: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Wayne A. Rosenthal (House)
- 2026-03-20: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Swanson (House)
- 2026-03-18: Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading (House)
- 2026-01-06: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Norine K. Hammond (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4291.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/10400HB4291.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-HB4291-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).