Bill Text: IL SB2698 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Allows a forest preserve or conservation district to enact ordinances regulating unmanned aircraft systems. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2025-01-07 - Session Sine Die [SB2698 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2698-Introduced.html

---

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2698 Introduced 1/10/2024, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
620 ILCS 5/42.1
Amends the Illinois Aeronautics Act. Allows a forest preserve or conservation district to enact ordinances regulating unmanned aircraft systems. Effective immediately.
LRB103 36471 MXP 66574 b
A BILL FOR
SB2698 LRB103 36471 MXP 66574 b
AN ACT concerning transportation.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Public Open
Space and Wildlife Drone Safety Amendment.
Section 5. The Illinois Aeronautics Act is amended by
changing Section 42.1 as follows:
(620 ILCS 5/42.1)
Sec. 42.1. Regulation of unmanned aircraft systems.
(a) As used in this Section:
"Unmanned aircraft" means a device used or intended to be
used for flight in the air that is operated without the
possibility of direct human intervention within or on the
device.
"Unmanned aircraft system" means an unmanned aircraft and
its associated elements, including communication links and the
components that control the unmanned aircraft, that are
required for the safe and efficient operation of the unmanned
aircraft in the national airspace system.
(b) To the extent that State-level oversight does not
conflict with federal laws, rules, or regulations, the
regulation of an unmanned aircraft system is an exclusive

SB2698 - 2 - LRB103 36471 MXP 66574 b
power and function of the State. No unit of local government,
including home rule unit, may enact an ordinance or resolution
to regulate unmanned aircraft systems. This Section is a
denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under
subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois
Constitution. This Section does not apply to any local
ordinance enacted by a municipality of more than 1,000,000
inhabitants, a forest preserve district, or a conservation
district.
(c) Nothing in this Section shall infringe or impede any
current right or remedy available under existing State law.
(d) The Department may adopt any rules that it finds
appropriate to address the safe and legal operation of
unmanned aircraft systems in this State, so that those engaged
in the operation of unmanned aircraft systems may so engage
with the least possible restriction, consistent with their
safety and with the safety and the rights of others, and in
compliance with federal rules and regulations.
(Source: P.A. 100-735, eff. 8-3-18.)