IllinoisSB0710104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

REGULATION-TECH

Sponsored By: Patrick J. Joyce (Democratic)

Became Law

assignmentsexecutiveagriculture & conservation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 6 mixed.

Wildlife control permits and subcontractor rules for businesses

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Department can issue Nuisance Wildlife Control Permits to paid providers, governments, and nonprofits. Permits follow Department rules and reporting. If you subcontract, the subcontractor must also hold a permit. You must keep their name, address, phone, and work type for at least 2 years and show records on request. If you are properly permitted and operating under this program, you are exempt from other parts of the Act unless the Department limits that by rule.

Extra antlerless permits for landowners

Beginning January 1, 2026, landowners can allow other qualified people to take deer under their permits, as set by rule. If you harvest at least half of your permits this year, you automatically get extra antlerless-only permits for the same season. If you harvested at least 80% last year, you are automatically eligible for extra permits next year for use June 1 through September 15.

Landowner, tenant, family, and guest permits

Starting January 1, 2027, Illinois residents who own at least 40 acres and hunt only on that land get free deer permits. Tenants who rent at least 40 acres for farming with a notarized agreement also get free permits when they hunt only that land. Each season, you get one either-sex and one antlerless permit for firearm and the same pair for archery. Entity owners count too: one free permit per 40 acres in a county, up to 15 for shareholders or members and up to 3 for partners. For every 240 acres, owners may name one guest for an either-sex permit and one guest for an antlerless permit, up to five people total. Guests must meet eligibility and pay fees. A fee-free permit works on all Illinois farm lands you own, including land held through a business. The Department may also issue permits to immediate family who live full-time on the property by rule.

Deer permit types, fees, and supply

Beginning January 1, 2026, you must get a Deer Hunting Permit before taking deer. Resident deer permit fees are capped at $25. Nonresident deer permit fees are capped at $400, and nonresident archery fees at $425. The Department offers three resident archery options: a combo (either-sex plus antlerless), a single antlerless, and a single either-sex permit. At least 20,000 nonresident either-sex archery permits are available each year. Youth resident and youth nonresident archery fees are the same.

Easier wildlife damage control on property

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Department may let owners, tenants, or unpaid agents remove wildlife that damages property or risks health or safety after an investigation. A damage-control permit can last up to 90 days, and the first permit for a landowner or tenant has no fee. You must report within 10 days after the permit ends how many animals you took and what you did with them. Doing wildlife control without the required permit is treated as illegal taking. Drainage and road districts or their designees may control muskrats or beavers on district property without a permit if they follow the Code and carry written authorization. The Department does not release trap and snare locations under FOIA. The Department must post current permit information and directions online.

Hunting limits, hours, and banned methods

During hours when deer hunting is unlawful, guns must be unloaded and bows may not be carried with an arrow nocked. After you take the legal limit, you may not keep hunting with that weapon. The law bans taking deer with vehicles, dogs, or horses, and bans bait. An area counts as baited while bait is present and for 10 days after it is removed. You may not possess or transport a wild deer injured or killed on a public highway unless rules allow it. The Department can stop upland game hunting during gun deer season by rule. Normal crop work, food plots, and non-ingestible scents are allowed. Breaking these rules is a Class B misdemeanor. These rules take effect January 1, 2026.

Rules and limits for landowner permits

Starting January 1, 2027, you must carry your permit and proof you qualify when hunting under these landowner or tenant permits. If you do not limit hunting to land you own or rent, you pay the same permit fee as other applicants. Nonresidents who own at least 40 acres and hunt only their land pay a fee set by rule. No person may receive more than one either-sex and one antlerless permit for firearm season, and the same limits apply for archery. The Department sets how many permits a person may get and can make rules on applications, proof, eligibility, and suspensions. For acreage counts, any fraction of 0.5 acres or more rounds up. The Act starts January 1, 2026; these section changes start January 1, 2027.

Safer dog tracking for wounded deer

The law lets you use a dog to track a wounded deer. The dog must be on a lead 50 feet or shorter. At night, no one with the dog may have a gun or bow outside legal hours or seasons. During firearm seasons, trackers must wear blaze orange or solid blaze pink. If you are with the licensed hunter who wounded the deer, you do not need a hunting license or deer permit. These rules begin January 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Patrick J. Joyce
Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

Adam M. Niemerg
Republican • House
Adriane Johnson
Democratic • Senate
Amy Briel
Democratic • House
Andrew S. Chesney
Republican • Senate
Barbara Hernandez
Democratic • House
Brandun Schweizer
Republican • House
Chapin Rose
Republican • Senate
Charles Meier
Republican • House
Chris Balkema
Republican • Senate
Dale Fowler
Republican • Senate
Dan Swanson
Republican • House
Dave Severin
Republican • House
David Friess
Republican • House
David Koehler
Democratic • Senate
Doris Turner
Democratic • Senate
Harry Benton
Democratic • House
Jason R. Bunting
Republican • House
Jawaharial Williams
Democratic • House
Jed Davis
Republican • House
Jil Tracy
Republican • Senate
Katie Stuart
Democratic • House
Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.
Democratic • House
Li Arellano, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
Democratic • House
Maurice A. West, II
Democratic • House
Meg Loughran Cappel
Democratic • Senate
Michael J. Kelly
Democratic • House
Michael W. Halpin
Democratic • Senate
Neil Anderson
Republican • Senate
Norine K. Hammond
Republican • House
Patrick Windhorst
Republican • House
Paul Faraci
Democratic • Senate
Paul Jacobs
Republican • House
Sally J. Turner
Republican • Senate
Sharon Chung
Democratic • House
Sue Rezin
Republican • Senate
Suzy Glowiak Hilton
Democratic • Senate
Terri Bryant
Republican • Senate
Tony M. McCombie
Republican • House
Wayne A. Rosenthal
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 344 • No: 77

House vote • 5/30/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 115 • No: 0

House vote • 5/28/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee;

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 5/27/2025

Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed

Yes: 75 • No: 39

House vote • 5/6/2025

Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed

Yes: 71 • No: 38

Senate vote • 5/1/2025

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Agriculture;

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/1/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 51 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/19/2025

Do Pass Executive;

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0361
8/15/2025Senate
Effective Date January 1, 2027; Some Provisions
8/15/2025Senate
Effective Date January 1, 2026; Some Provisions
8/15/2025Senate
Governor Approved
8/15/2025Senate
Sent to the Governor
6/27/2025Senate
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams
5/30/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. David Friess
5/30/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony M. McCombie
5/30/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jed Davis
5/30/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul Jacobs
5/30/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Severin
5/30/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Windhorst
5/30/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer
5/30/2025House
Passed Both Houses
5/30/2025Senate
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 115-000-000
5/30/2025House
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/30/2025House
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
5/28/2025House
Second Reading - Short Debate
5/28/2025House
Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting
5/28/2025House
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
5/28/2025House
Do Pass / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 009-000-000
5/28/2025House
Motion to Suspend Rule 21 - Prevailed 075-039-000
5/27/2025House
Motion Filed to Suspend Rule 21 Agriculture & Conservation Committee; Rep. Bob Morgan
5/27/2025House
Committee/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2025
5/27/2025House
Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
5/27/2025House

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Enrolled
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Senate Amendment 1
PDF

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