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IllinoisSB2466104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

OPEN LANDS-GRANTS TO GOVTS

Sponsored By: Omar Aquino (Democratic)

Became Law

assignmentsenvironment and conservationagriculture & conservation

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

50% grant advance, then reimbursements

At award, the Department pays at least 50% of a grant up front unless the local government opts out. The rest is paid quarterly by reimbursement. The Department may grant an extension if the advance was spent or legally obligated within two years, or if no advance was made.

Grants for local parks and open space

The Department of Natural Resources gives grants to local governments. The grants can pay for parks, recreation and conservation areas, marinas and shorelines, planning and engineering, and buying open space land. Money comes from the Capital Development Fund, the Build Illinois Bond Fund, or other funds when the state appropriates it.

State share and caps for park grants

Most projects require a 50/50 state-local match. Extra help is available for need: up to 100% if the project site is a distressed location inside a distressed community, up to 90% for distressed local governments, and up to 75% for distressed locations outside distressed communities. Each year, no single project can get more than 10% of that year’s total program funds. Also each year, at most 10% can go to distressed projects inside distressed communities, at most 30% to distressed local governments, and at most 10% to distressed projects outside distressed communities. For grants from new FY2023, FY2024, or FY2025 appropriations, distressed local governments can get up to 100%, and the Department may make more than 10% of those years’ funds available to distressed local governments.

Rules updated and old sections repealed

The Department of Natural Resources adopts rules to run this grant program. The law also repeals Sections 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, and 11.1 of the old Act.

Distressed tests and scoring rules

The law names four tests to mark an area as distressed: poverty at least 20%, at least 75% of kids in the school lunch program, at least 20% of households on SNAP, or unemployment over 120% of the national rate for two straight years. Data older than three years cannot be used to set distress. When scoring projects, the Department gives priority to dense areas, needs in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, distressed places, and flood plains. The Department considers all applications filed on time first, denies projects that do not fit the Act’s purposes, and ranks the rest with dollar amounts. Late applications are not considered that year, and the list must show the last grant likely payable with that year’s funds.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Omar Aquino

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adriane Johnson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Barbara Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Bob Morgan

    Democratic • House

  • Celina Villanueva

    Democratic • Senate

  • Christopher Belt

    Democratic • Senate

  • Cristina Castro

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dale Fowler

    Republican • Senate

  • David Koehler

    Democratic • Senate

  • Doris Turner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Democratic • Senate

  • Karina Villa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kelly M. Cassidy

    Democratic • House

  • Laura Ellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Laura Faver Dias

    Democratic • House

  • Laura Fine

    Democratic • Senate

  • Li Arellano, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Maura Hirschauer

    Democratic • House

  • Maurice A. West, II

    Democratic • House

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Democratic • House

  • Patrick Windhorst

    Republican • House

  • Rachel Ventura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ram Villivalam

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert F. Martwick

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert Peters

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sara Feigenholtz

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sharon Chung

    Democratic • House

  • Sonya M. Harper

    Democratic • House

  • Terri Bryant

    Republican • Senate

  • Travis Weaver

    Republican • House

  • Wayne A. Rosenthal

    Republican • House

  • Willie Preston

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yolonda Morris

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 228 • No: 12

Senate vote • 5/31/2025

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs

Yes: 55 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/29/2025

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Environment and Conservation;

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 5/23/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 104 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 5/6/2025

Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee;

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 44 • No: 10

Senate vote • 3/20/2025

Do Pass Environment and Conservation;

Yes: 7 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0423

    8/15/2025Senate

  2. Effective Date January 1, 2026

    8/15/2025Senate

  3. Governor Approved

    8/15/2025Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/27/2025Senate

  5. Passed Both Houses

    5/31/2025Senate

  6. Senate Concurs

    5/31/2025Senate

  7. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 055-000-000

    5/31/2025Senate

  8. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Environment and Conservation; 009-000-000

    5/29/2025Senate

  9. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler

    5/27/2025Senate

  10. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Environment and Conservation

    5/27/2025Senate

  11. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments

    5/27/2025Senate

  12. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Omar Aquino

    5/27/2025Senate

  13. Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Omar Aquino

    5/27/2025Senate

  14. Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 27, 2025

    5/26/2025Senate

  15. Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1

    5/26/2025Senate

  16. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris

    5/23/2025House

  17. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung

    5/23/2025House

  18. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 104-000-002

    5/23/2025House

  19. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    5/23/2025House

  20. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House

  21. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House

  22. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias

    5/16/2025House

  23. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II

    5/14/2025House

  24. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Wayne A. Rosenthal

    5/14/2025House

  25. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy

    5/9/2025House

Bill Text

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