summary
Introduced
02/05/2025
02/05/2025
In Committee
03/21/2025
03/21/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the Riparian Protection and Water Quality Practices Act. Requires landowners who own property that is adjacent to a water body identified and mapped on a buffer-protection map to maintain a buffer to protect the State's water resources. Sets forth requirements concerning the types of buffers that must be installed and the timelines for their installation. Requires soil and water conservation districts to develop and submit to each local water management authority a summary of watercourses within their jurisdiction by July 1, 2026. Requires local water management authorities to incorporate these recommendations into their comprehensive water management plans. Exempts certain lands from the requirements of the Act. Allows the Department to withhold funding from local authorities that fail to implement the Act. Contains provisions concerning judicial review of decisions of the Department of Natural Resources. Specifies that the Act applies to State property. Defines terms.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Riparian Protection and Water Quality Practices Act, which requires landowners with property adjacent to mapped water bodies to maintain vegetative buffers to protect water resources. The bill mandates 50-foot buffers for public waters and 16.5-foot buffers for public drainage systems, with implementation deadlines of November 1, 2026, for public waters and November 1, 2027, for drainage systems. Farmers can use alternative practices like retention ponds to meet requirements, and landowners will receive technical assistance from soil and water conservation districts. The bill includes exemptions for certain types of land, such as properties enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program or those with existing structures. Local water management authorities must develop and incorporate watercourse summaries into their management plans, and the Department of Natural Resources can withhold funding from authorities not implementing the act. Landowners who do not comply will receive notices with corrective action requirements and may face administrative penalties, though these can be forgiven if proper actions are taken. The bill provides an appeals process for landowners and offers potential financial assistance for buffer establishment, with the overall goal of protecting Illinois' water resources from erosion, runoff pollution, and maintaining riparian corridors.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (on 03/21/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2729&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104 |
| BillText | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/104/HB/10400HB2729.htm |
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