104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3221 Introduced , by Rep. Wayne A Rosenthal SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the fee for a fishing or hunting license is $5 for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces. LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3221 Introduced , by Rep. Wayne A Rosenthal SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the fee for a fishing or hunting license is $5 for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces. LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3221 Introduced , by Rep. Wayne A Rosenthal SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the fee for a fishing or hunting license is $5 for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces. LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b A BILL FOR HB3221LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 AN ACT concerning fees. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by 5 changing Section 20-45 as follows: 6 (515 ILCS 5/20-45) (from Ch. 56, par. 20-45) 7 Sec. 20-45. License fees for residents. Fees for licenses 8 for residents of the State of Illinois shall be as follows: 9 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for 10 sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or 11 spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, the fee is 12 $14.50 for individuals 16 to 64 years old, one-half of the 13 current fishing license fee for individuals age 65 or 14 older, and, on or after the effective date of this 15 amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the fee is 16 $5 commencing with the 2012 license year, one-half of the 17 current fishing license fee for resident veterans of the 18 United States Armed Forces after returning from service 19 abroad or mobilization by the President of the United 20 States as an active duty member of the United States Armed 21 Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of 22 the United States Armed Forces. Veterans must provide to 23 the Department acceptable verification of their service. 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3221 Introduced , by Rep. Wayne A Rosenthal SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides that the fee for a fishing or hunting license is $5 for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces. LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b A BILL FOR 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 520 ILCS 5/3.2 from Ch. 61, par. 3.2 LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 2 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 2 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 2 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 The Department shall establish by administrative rule the 2 procedure by which such verification of service shall be 3 made to the Department for the purpose of issuing fishing 4 licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee. 5 (a-3) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, 6 for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or 7 spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, residents 8 of this State may obtain a 3-year fishing license. The fee 9 for a 3-year fishing license is 3 times the annual fee. For 10 residents age 65 or older, the fee is one half of the fee 11 charged for a 3-year fishing license. For resident 12 veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning 13 from service abroad or mobilization by the President of 14 the United States, the fee is $5 one-half of the fee 15 charged for a 3-year fishing license. Veterans must 16 provide to the Department, per administrative rule, 17 verification of their service. The Department shall 18 establish what constitutes suitable verification of 19 service for the purpose of issuing 3-year fishing licenses 20 to resident veterans at a reduced fee. 21 (a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be 22 $1 for an annual license and 3 times the annual fee for a 23 3-year license for residents over 75 years of age. 24 (b) All residents before using any commercial fishing 25 device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee 26 for which shall be $60 and a resident fishing license, the HB3221 - 2 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 3 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 3 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 3 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 fee for which is $14.50. Each and every commercial device 2 used shall be licensed by a resident commercial fisherman 3 as follows: 4 (1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction 5 thereof, of seine the fee is $18. For each minnow 6 seine, minnow trap, or net for commercial purposes the 7 fee is $20. 8 (2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot 9 line device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee 10 is $3. 11 (3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for 12 the first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of 13 gill net the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional 14 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, the fee is $10. 15 These fees shall apply to all gill nets in use in the 16 water or on drying reels on the shore. 17 (4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction 18 thereof, of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18. 19 (c) Residents of this State may obtain a sportsmen's 20 combination license that shall entitle the holder to the 21 same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents 22 holding a license as described in subsection (a) of this 23 Section and to the same hunting privileges as residents 24 holding a license to hunt all species as described in 25 Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No sportsmen's 26 combination license shall be issued to any individual who HB3221 - 3 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 4 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 4 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 4 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting 2 license separately. The sportsmen's combination license 3 fee shall be $25.50. For residents age 65 or older, the fee 4 is one-half of the fee charged for a sportsmen's 5 combination license. For resident veterans of the United 6 States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or 7 mobilization by the President of the United States as an 8 active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the 9 Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United 10 States Armed Forces, the fee, commencing with the 2012 11 license year, is one-half of the fee charged for a 12 sportsmen's combination license. Veterans must provide to 13 the Department acceptable verification of their service. 14 The Department shall establish by administrative rule the 15 procedure by which such verification of service shall be 16 made to the Department for the purpose of issuing 17 sportsmen's combination licenses to resident veterans at a 18 reduced fee. 19 (c-5) Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year 20 sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the 21 holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as 22 residents holding a license as described in subsection 23 (a-3) and to the same hunting privileges as residents 24 holding a license to hunt all species as described in 25 Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. A 3-year sportsmen's 26 combination license shall not be issued to any individual HB3221 - 4 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 5 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 5 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 5 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting 2 license separately. The 3-year sportsmen's combination 3 license fee shall be 3 times the annual fee. For residents 4 age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for 5 a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. For resident 6 veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning 7 from service abroad or mobilization by the President of 8 the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged 9 for a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. Veterans 10 must provide to the Department, per administrative rule, 11 verification of their service. The Department shall 12 establish what constitutes suitable verification of 13 service for the purpose of issuing 3-year sportsmen's 14 combination licenses to resident veterans at a reduced 15 fee. 16 (d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices 17 as defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as 18 defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does 19 not exempt the licensee from the requirement for a salmon 20 or inland trout stamp. The licenses provided for by this 21 subsection are not required for residents of the State of 22 Illinois who have obtained the license provided for in 23 subsection (a) or (a-3) of this Section. 24 (e) All residents before using any commercial mussel 25 device shall obtain a commercial mussel license, the fee 26 for which shall be $50. HB3221 - 5 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 6 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 6 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 6 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 (f) Residents of this State, upon establishing 2 residency as required by the Department, may obtain a 3 lifetime hunting or fishing license or lifetime 4 sportsmen's combination license which shall entitle the 5 holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as 6 residents holding a license as described in paragraph (a) 7 of this Section and to the same hunting privileges as 8 residents holding a license to hunt all species as 9 described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No lifetime 10 sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to or 11 retained by any individual who would be ineligible for 12 either the fishing or hunting license separately, either 13 upon issuance, or in any year a violation would subject an 14 individual to have either or both fishing or hunting 15 privileges rescinded. The lifetime hunting and fishing 16 license fees shall be as follows: 17 (1) Lifetime fishing: 30 x the current fishing 18 license fee. 19 (2) Lifetime hunting: 30 x the current hunting 20 license fee. 21 (3) Lifetime sportsmen's combination license: 30 x 22 the current sportsmen's combination license fee. 23 Lifetime licenses shall not be refundable. A $10 fee shall 24 be charged for reissuing any lifetime license. The Department 25 may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and use 26 of lifetime licenses and may suspend or revoke any lifetime HB3221 - 6 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 7 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 7 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 7 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 license issued under this Section for violations of those 2 rules or regulations or other provisions under this Code or 3 the Wildlife Code, or a violation of the United States Code 4 that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting, 5 transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any fish or 6 aquatic life protected by this Code or the taking, possessing, 7 killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or 8 importing any fauna protected by the Wildlife Code when any 9 part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois. 10 Individuals under 16 years of age who possess a lifetime 11 hunting or sportsmen's combination license shall have in their 12 possession, while in the field, a certificate of competency as 13 required under Section 3.2 of the Wildlife Code. Any lifetime 14 license issued under this Section shall not exempt individuals 15 from obtaining additional stamps or permits required under the 16 provisions of this Code or the Wildlife Code. Individuals 17 required to purchase additional stamps shall sign the stamps 18 and have them in their possession while fishing or hunting 19 with a lifetime license. All fees received from the issuance 20 of lifetime licenses shall be deposited in the Fish and 21 Wildlife Endowment Fund. 22 Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of this 23 Section, all licenses provided for in this Section shall 24 expire on March 31 of each year, except that the license 25 provided for in subsection (d) of this Section shall expire 24 26 hours after the effective date and time listed on the face of HB3221 - 7 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 8 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 8 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 8 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 the license. Licenses issued under subsection (a-3) or (c-5) 2 shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in 3 which the license is issued. 4 The Department shall by administrative rule provide for 5 the automatic renewal of a fishing license upon the request of 6 the applicant. 7 All individuals required to have and failing to have the 8 license provided for in subsection (a), (a-3), or (d) of this 9 Section shall be fined according to the provisions of Section 10 20-35 of this Code. 11 All individuals required to have and failing to have the 12 licenses provided for in subsections (b) and (e) of this 13 Section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 14 (g) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable 15 verification" means official documentation from the Department 16 of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing 17 mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a 18 DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military 19 Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a 20 letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the 21 Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command 22 covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel 23 records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other 24 documentation that the Department, by administrative rule, 25 deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service 26 abroad. HB3221 - 8 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 9 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 9 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 9 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 For the purposes of this Section, the term "service 2 abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United 3 States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active 4 duty service in territories and possessions of the United 5 States. 6 (Source: P.A. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 102-837, eff. 5-13-22; 7 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24.) 8 Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing 9 Section 3.2 as follows: 10 (520 ILCS 5/3.2) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2) 11 Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction. 12 Before the Department or any county, city, village, township, 13 incorporated town clerk or his duly designated agent or any 14 other person authorized or designated by the Department to 15 issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any 16 person, the person shall file his application with the 17 Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a 18 form provided by the Department and further give definite 19 proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk 20 designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish 21 the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the 22 names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or his 23 duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell licenses and 24 stamps only within the territorial area for which he was HB3221 - 9 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 10 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 10 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 10 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 elected or appointed. No duly designated agent is authorized 2 to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by any other 3 business establishment. Each application shall be executed and 4 sworn to and shall set forth the name and description of the 5 applicant and place of residence. 6 No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or 7 after January 1, 1980 unless he presents the person authorized 8 to issue the license evidence that he has held a hunting 9 license issued by the State of Illinois or another state in a 10 prior year, or a certificate of competency as provided in this 11 Section. Persons under 18 years of age may be issued a Lifetime 12 Hunting or Sportsmen's Combination License as provided under 13 Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not 14 be entitled to hunt alone, without the supervision of an adult 15 age 21 or older, unless they have a certificate of competency 16 as provided in this Section and the certificate is in their 17 possession while hunting. 18 The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize 19 personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors 20 to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in 21 firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow 22 and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout 23 the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall 24 receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural 25 Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association 26 or organization in establishing courses if the organization HB3221 - 10 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 11 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 11 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 11 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the 2 handling of firearms or bow and arrow. 3 The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any 4 person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the 5 handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The 6 persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and 7 upon the successful completion shall issue to the person 8 instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of 9 firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be 10 made for any course of instruction except for materials or 11 ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall 12 furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety 13 education programs to be distributed free of charge to 14 applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and 15 authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of 16 firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee 17 charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card. 18 The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a 19 resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older, 20 and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident veterans 21 of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service 22 abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States 23 as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the 24 Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States 25 Armed Forces, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 26 hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of HB3221 - 11 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 12 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 12 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 12 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 Illinois. On or after the effective date of this amendatory 2 Act of the 104th General Assembly, the fee for a hunting 3 license to hunt all species is $5 for resident veterans of the 4 United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad 5 or mobilization by the President of the United States as an 6 active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the 7 Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States 8 Armed Forces. Veterans must provide to the Department 9 acceptable verification of their service. The Department shall 10 establish by administrative rule the procedure by which such 11 verification of service shall be made to the Department for 12 the purpose of issuing resident veterans hunting licenses at a 13 reduced fee. The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species 14 shall be $1 for residents over 75 years of age. Nonresidents 15 shall be charged $57 for a hunting license. 16 Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year hunting 17 license to hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 for 3 18 times the annual fee. For residents age 65 or older and 19 resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after 20 returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President 21 of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged 22 for a 3-year hunting license to hunt all species as described 23 in Section 3.1 for a resident of this State. Veterans must 24 provide to the Department, per administrative rule, 25 verification of their service. For resident veterans of the 26 United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad HB3221 - 12 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 13 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 13 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 13 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee 2 is $5. The Department shall establish what constitutes 3 suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing 4 resident veterans 3-year hunting licenses at a reduced fee. 5 Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license 6 for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the 7 State and shall be charged a fee of $35. 8 A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a 9 nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding 10 and hunting preserve area only, established under Section 11 3.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and 12 payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license. 13 The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date 14 each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area 15 licenses expire. 16 Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, 17 regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a 18 fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State 19 Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over 20 75 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the 21 Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the 22 person or affixed to his license or permit in a space 23 designated by the Department for that purpose. 24 Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of 25 his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and 26 shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall HB3221 - 13 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 14 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 14 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 14 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b 1 be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as 2 provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life 3 Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to his 4 license or permit in a space designated by the Department for 5 that purpose. 6 Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require 7 the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person 8 in any one license year. 9 The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer 10 Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age. 11 The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting 12 licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession 13 of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may 14 consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used 15 as the Department may order. 16 All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall 17 expire upon March 31 of each year. Three-year hunting licenses 18 shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in 19 which the license is issued. 20 Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued 21 under the provisions of this Act shall have it in his 22 possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the 23 officers and authorized employees of the Department, any 24 sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a 25 demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department 26 owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters HB3221 - 14 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221- 15 -LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 15 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 15 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b HB3221 - 15 - LRB104 08617 BDA 18669 b