Bill Text: IL SB2061 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, if wild deer cause more than $500 in property damage on land in the State that is owned or leased by an Illinois resident, then the Department of Natural Resources shall compensate the Illinois resident for the actual property damages caused by the deer and incurred by the Illinois resident upon submittal by the Illinois resident of a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department by rule. Provides that a claim must be submitted within one year after the date that a claimant suffers damages and knows or has reason to know of the damages. Grants the Department rulemaking powers. Provides for a private cause of action in the Court of Claims if the Illinois resident has not been compensated within 180 days after submitting a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-19 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Terri Bryant [SB2061 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB2061-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB2061 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Neil Anderson SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
520 ILCS 5/2.1a new
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, if wild deer cause more than $500 in property damage on land in the State that is owned or leased by an Illinois resident, then the Department of Natural Resources shall compensate the Illinois resident for the actual property damages caused by the deer and incurred by the Illinois resident upon submittal by the Illinois resident of a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department by rule. Provides that a claim must be submitted within one year after the date that a claimant suffers damages and knows or has reason to know of the damages. Grants the Department rulemaking powers. Provides for a private cause of action in the Court of Claims if the Illinois resident has not been compensated within 180 days after submitting a claim in the form and manner prescribed by the Department.
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A BILL FOR
SB2061 LRB104 03064 BDA 13127 b
AN ACT concerning wildlife.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by adding Section
2.1a as follows:
(520 ILCS 5/2.1a new)
Sec. 2.1a. Compensation for damages caused by deer.
(a) If wild deer cause more than $500 in property damage on
land in the State that is owned or leased by an Illinois
resident, then the Department shall compensate the Illinois
resident for the actual property damages caused by the deer
and incurred by the Illinois resident upon submittal by the
Illinois resident of a claim in the form and manner prescribed
by the Department by rule. A claim submitted under this
subsection must be submitted within one year after the date
that a claimant suffers damages that are compensable under
this subsection and knows or has reason to know of the damages.
The Department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(b) If an Illinois resident who is entitled to
compensation under subsection (a) is not compensated by the
Department within 180 days after submitting a claim in the
form and manner prescribed by the Department, the Illinois
resident may bring an action against the State of Illinois in

SB2061 - 2 - LRB104 03064 BDA 13127 b
the Court of Claims for the actual property damages incurred
by the Illinois resident.