Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Allows the board of a forest preserve district to establish a special forest preserve district retailers' occupation tax and service occupation tax after referendum of the voters. Allows the tax to used exclusively for general purposes, including education, outdoor recreation, maintenance, operations, public safety at the forest preserves, trails, acquiring and restoring land, and any other lawful purposes or programs determined by the board of that district. Includes referendum language and additional ballot informational language. Incorporates provisions from the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to implement the tax. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Special Forest Preserve Retailers' and Service Occupation Tax Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. Authorizes grants to be provided under the Act for financing shoreline restoration and protection projects on behalf of counties and park districts.
Appropriates $1,000,000,000 from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for construction and maintenance of State owned, leased, and managed recreation sites and $500,000,000 from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for grants for capital improvements to convention centers. Effective July 1, 2025.
Creates the Department of Natural Resources Sahara Woods State Recreation Area Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to enter into a public-private agreement to develop, construct, finance, lease, manage, and operate campground facilities at Sahara Woods State Recreation Area. Authorizes the Director of Natural Resources to enter into discussions with interested persons prior to soliciting requests for proposals. Directs the Department to comply with specified provisions of the Illinois Procurement Code. Describes the request-for-proposal process that is to be employed. Contains provisions concerning the payment of prevailing wages and the use of project labor agreements. Specifies that the term of any public-private agreement entered into under the Act shall be no less than 25 years and no more than 99 years. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Natural Resources Act. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to make grants to local not-for-profit organizations for the purposes of development, management, maintenance, and study of stormwater retention ponds. Amends the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. Provides that grants under the Act may be used as funding for the creation or maintenance of stormwater retention ponds and shoreline stabilization projects that provide habitat for native plants and animals on park district lands.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of assessment, property registered in perpetuity with the register of areas under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is considered to be encumbered by a public easement and shall be depreciated to a level at which its value is $5 per acre, and any improvement, dwelling, or other appurtenant structure present on that land shall be valued at 33 1/3% of its fair cash value. Provides that a conservation right on land preserving a habitat for plant and animal species that are native to Illinois (currently, State or federal endangered or threatened species or federal candidate species) is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit. Provides that a conservation right on land located adjacent to a park, conservation area, nature preserve, or other land or water area that is publicly owned or otherwise permanently protected for conservation purposes is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit if the conservation right on that land furthers the conservation purposes of the adjacent protected area. Effective immediately.
Amends the Build Illinois Bond Act. Authorizes bonds to be issued under the Act for the purpose of making of grants to units of local government, including counties and park districts, through the Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Program to restore and protect shorelines in the State.
Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of assessment, property registered in perpetuity with the register of areas under the Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act is considered to be encumbered by a public easement and shall be depreciated to a level at which its value is $5 per acre, and any improvement, dwelling, or other appurtenant structure present on that land shall be valued at 33 1/3% of its fair cash value. Provides that a conservation right on land preserving a habitat for plant and animal species that are native to Illinois (currently, State or federal endangered or threatened species or federal candidate species) is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit. Provides that a conservation right on land located adjacent to a park, conservation area, nature preserve, or other land or water area that is publicly owned or otherwise permanently protected for conservation purposes is considered to provide a demonstrated public benefit if the conservation right on that land furthers the conservation purposes of the adjacent protected area. Effective immediately.
Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Natural Resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $104,161,333; Other State Funds $409,606,767; Federal Funds $128,060,500; Total $641,828,600.
Supports work being done towards the creation of the U.S. Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Urges Illinois state agencies to continue to coordinate with other states on a shared identity for this regional trail.
