104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1518 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Sally J. Turner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that, for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces who receive an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge from the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee for a lifetime fishing license for those veterans is one-half of the fee charged for a lifetime fishing license. Provides that those veterans must provide to the Department of Natural Resources, according to rule set by the Department, verification of their service. Provides that the Department shall establish what constitutes suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing lifetime fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee. Makes technical changes. LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1518 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Sally J. Turner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that, for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces who receive an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge from the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee for a lifetime fishing license for those veterans is one-half of the fee charged for a lifetime fishing license. Provides that those veterans must provide to the Department of Natural Resources, according to rule set by the Department, verification of their service. Provides that the Department shall establish what constitutes suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing lifetime fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee. Makes technical changes. LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1518 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Sally J. Turner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45
515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45
Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that, for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces who receive an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge from the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee for a lifetime fishing license for those veterans is one-half of the fee charged for a lifetime fishing license. Provides that those veterans must provide to the Department of Natural Resources, according to rule set by the Department, verification of their service. Provides that the Department shall establish what constitutes suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing lifetime fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee. Makes technical changes.
LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
A BILL FOR
SB1518LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
1 AN ACT concerning fish.
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.
8 (a) Fees for licenses for residents of the State of
9 Illinois shall be as detailed in this Section. follows: (a)
10 Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for sport
11 fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or spearing
12 devices as defined in Section 10-110, the fee is $14.50 for
13 individuals 16 to 64 years old, one-half of the current
14 fishing license fee for individuals age 65 or older, and,
15 commencing with the 2012 license year, one-half of the current
16 fishing license fee for resident veterans of the United States
17 Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or
18 mobilization by the President of the United States as an
19 active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
20 Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States
21 Armed Forces. Veterans must provide to the Department
22 acceptable verification of their service. The Department shall
23 establish by administrative rule the procedure by which such
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB1518 Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Sally J. Turner SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45 515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45
515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45
Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Provides that, for resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces who receive an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge from the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee for a lifetime fishing license for those veterans is one-half of the fee charged for a lifetime fishing license. Provides that those veterans must provide to the Department of Natural Resources, according to rule set by the Department, verification of their service. Provides that the Department shall establish what constitutes suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing lifetime fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee. Makes technical changes.
LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
A BILL FOR
515 ILCS 5/20-45 from Ch. 56, par. 20-45
LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 2 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 2 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 2 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
1 verification of service shall be made to the Department for
2 the purpose of issuing fishing licenses to resident veterans
3 at a reduced fee.
4 (a-3) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for
5 sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or spearing
6 devices as defined in Section 10-110, residents of this State
7 may obtain a 3-year fishing license. The fee for a 3-year
8 fishing license is 3 times the annual fee. For residents age 65
9 or older, the fee is one half of the fee charged for a 3-year
10 fishing license. For resident veterans of the United States
11 Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or
12 mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is
13 one-half of the fee charged for a 3-year fishing license.
14 Veterans must provide to the Department, per administrative
15 rule, verification of their service. The Department shall
16 establish what constitutes suitable verification of service
17 for the purpose of issuing 3-year fishing licenses to resident
18 veterans at a reduced fee.
19 (a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be $1
20 for an annual license and 3 times the annual fee for a 3-year
21 license for residents over 75 years of age.
22 (b) All residents before using any commercial fishing
23 device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee for
24 which shall be $60 and a resident fishing license, the fee for
25 which is $14.50. Each and every commercial device used shall
26 be licensed by a resident commercial fisherman as follows:
SB1518 - 2 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 3 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 3 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 3 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
1 (1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction thereof, of
2 seine the fee is $18. For each minnow seine, minnow trap,
3 or net for commercial purposes the fee is $20.
4 (2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot line
5 device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee is $3.
6 (3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for the
7 first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of gill net
8 the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional lineal feet,
9 or fraction thereof, the fee is $10. These fees shall
10 apply to all gill nets in use in the water or on drying
11 reels on the shore.
12 (4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction thereof, of
13 gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
14 (c) Residents of this State may obtain a sportsmen's
15 combination license that shall entitle the holder to the same
16 non-commercial fishing privileges as residents holding a
17 license as described in subsection (a) of this Section and to
18 the same hunting privileges as residents holding a license to
19 hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife
20 Code. No sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to
21 any individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing
22 or hunting license separately. The sportsmen's combination
23 license fee shall be $25.50. For residents age 65 or older, the
24 fee is one-half of the fee charged for a sportsmen's
25 combination license. For resident veterans of the United
26 States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or
SB1518 - 3 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 4 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 4 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 4 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
1 mobilization by the President of the United States as an
2 active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
3 Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States
4 Armed Forces, the fee, commencing with the 2012 license year,
5 is one-half of the fee charged for a sportsmen's combination
6 license. Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable
7 verification of their service. The Department shall establish
8 by administrative rule the procedure by which such
9 verification of service shall be made to the Department for
10 the purpose of issuing sportsmen's combination licenses to
11 resident veterans at a reduced fee.
12 (c-5) Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year
13 sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the holder
14 to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents
15 holding a license as described in subsection (a-3) and to the
16 same hunting privileges as residents holding a license to hunt
17 all species as described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. A
18 3-year sportsmen's combination license shall not be issued to
19 any individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing
20 or hunting license separately. The 3-year sportsmen's
21 combination license fee shall be 3 times the annual fee. For
22 residents age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee
23 charged for a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. For
24 resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after
25 returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President
26 of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
SB1518 - 4 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 5 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 5 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 5 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
1 for a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. Veterans must
2 provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
3 verification of their service. The Department shall establish
4 what constitutes suitable verification of service for the
5 purpose of issuing 3-year sportsmen's combination licenses to
6 resident veterans at a reduced fee.
7 (d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices as
8 defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as defined in
9 Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does not exempt the
10 licensee from the requirement for a salmon or inland trout
11 stamp. The licenses provided for by this subsection are not
12 required for residents of the State of Illinois who have
13 obtained the license provided for in subsection (a) or (a-3)
14 of this Section.
15 (e) All residents before using any commercial mussel
16 device shall obtain a commercial mussel license, the fee for
17 which shall be $50.
18 (f) Residents of this State, upon establishing residency
19 as required by the Department, may obtain a lifetime hunting
20 or fishing license or lifetime sportsmen's combination license
21 which shall entitle the holder to the same non-commercial
22 fishing privileges as residents holding a license as described
23 in paragraph (a) of this Section and to the same hunting
24 privileges as residents holding a license to hunt all species
25 as described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No lifetime
26 sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to or retained
SB1518 - 5 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 6 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 6 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 6 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
1 by any individual who would be ineligible for either the
2 fishing or hunting license separately, either upon issuance,
3 or in any year a violation would subject an individual to have
4 either or both fishing or hunting privileges rescinded. The
5 lifetime hunting and fishing license fees shall be as follows:
6 (1) Lifetime fishing: 30 x the current fishing license
7 fee.
8 (2) Lifetime hunting: 30 x the current hunting license
9 fee.
10 (3) Lifetime sportsmen's combination license: 30 x the
11 current sportsmen's combination license fee.
12 Lifetime licenses shall not be refundable. A $10 fee shall
13 be charged for reissuing any lifetime license. The Department
14 may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and use
15 of lifetime licenses and may suspend or revoke any lifetime
16 license issued under this Section for violations of those
17 rules or regulations or other provisions under this Code or
18 the Wildlife Code, or a violation of the United States Code
19 that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
20 transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any fish or
21 aquatic life protected by this Code or the taking, possessing,
22 killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or
23 importing any fauna protected by the Wildlife Code when any
24 part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois.
25 Individuals under 16 years of age who possess a lifetime
26 hunting or sportsmen's combination license shall have in their
SB1518 - 6 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 7 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 7 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 7 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
1 possession, while in the field, a certificate of competency as
2 required under Section 3.2 of the Wildlife Code. Any lifetime
3 license issued under this Section shall not exempt individuals
4 from obtaining additional stamps or permits required under the
5 provisions of this Code or the Wildlife Code. Individuals
6 required to purchase additional stamps shall sign the stamps
7 and have them in their possession while fishing or hunting
8 with a lifetime license. All fees received from the issuance
9 of lifetime licenses shall be deposited in the Fish and
10 Wildlife Endowment Fund.
11 For resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces
12 who receive an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge from
13 the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard,
14 or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee for
15 a lifetime fishing license for a veteran under this subsection
16 (f) is one-half of the fee charged for a lifetime fishing
17 license. Veterans must provide to the Department, according to
18 rule set by the Department, verification of their service. The
19 Department shall establish what constitutes suitable
20 verification of service for the purpose of issuing lifetime
21 fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
22 (f-5) Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of
23 this 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
SB1518 - 7 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 8 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 8 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 8 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 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.
SB1518 - 8 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518- 9 -LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b SB1518 - 9 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 9 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b
SB1518 - 9 - LRB104 08607 BDA 18659 b