# Illinois HB5439: WILDLIFE CD-LANDOWNER PERMIT Illinois HB5439, WILDLIFE CD-LANDOWNER PERMIT, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-07-31 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0703); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5439-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Illinois HB5439 - State: Illinois - Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) - Title: WILDLIFE CD-LANDOWNER PERMIT - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-06 - Last action: 2026-07-31, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0703 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 3 - Subjects: agriculture & conservation, assignments, agriculture - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (186 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that deer, turkey, and combination permits shall be issued to specified Illinois resident landowners and tenants without charge. Provides that the total number of deer, turkey, and combination permits that may be issued by the Department of Natural Resources and the fees for those permits shall be set by rule. Provides that Illinois resident that wish to hunt only on land on which they are resident tenants shall be issued deer permits without charge for Illinois land located in a county where the Department of Natural Resources has positively identified chronic wasting disease cases in the deer herd. Provides that no person shall be issued more than (i) one either-sex deer permit and one antlerless-only deer permit for the deer firearm season and (ii) one either-sex deer permit and one antlerless-only deer permit for the deer archery season under the amendatory Act. Defines terms. Requires permits to be on a hunter's person at all times while hunting. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Free hunting permits for Illinois residents: benefit, low. Illinois residents who own at least 40 acres, or rent at least 40 acres for commercial farming under a written, notarized agreement, get free deer and turkey permits. In counties with confirmed chronic wasting disease, resident landowners can get free deer permits with 20 acres; tenants must still… - Permit caps and proof rules for hunters: cost, low. A person can receive no more than one either-sex and one antlerless-only deer permit for each firearm and archery season under these rules. The Department also sets total permit limits and limits on other permits for some holders who want to hunt beyond covered land. Hunters must carry their permit… - Limited guest deer permits for landowners: mixed, low. The Department may issue one guest either-sex and one antlerless-only deer permit for each 240 acres owned by the current owners. The permits match the owner's season and hunting method. Guests must be named on the application, qualify to hunt, and pay applicable fees. No more than five people may… - Paid hunting permits for nonresident landowners: mixed, low. Nonresidents with a qualifying ownership interest in at least 40 acres of Illinois land can apply for deer or turkey permits. In counties with confirmed chronic wasting disease, nonresidents can apply for deer permits with 20 acres. They must hunt only on their land and pay a fee set by Department… - New rules for wild-game dealers: mixed, low. Dealers must get a permit to buy, sell, or process listed captive-reared game or legally taken furbearers for public consumption. A separate permit is required for each business location and sales vehicle; the annual fee is $25, and permits expire March 31. Dealers must keep transaction records, re… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Charles Meier (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Patrick J. Joyce (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tony M. McCombie (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-21 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 59 | 0 | | | 2026-04-30 | Senate | Do Pass Agriculture; | pass | 13 | 0 | | | 2026-04-09 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 105 | 0 | | | 2026-03-24 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB5439eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB5439enr.pdf) - Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB5439.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 - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB5439eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB5439enr.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB5439.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-HB5439-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).