Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB2955

LRB104 19148 TRT 32593 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2955

Introduced 1/27/2026, 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.

A BILL FOR

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 the Court of Claims for the actual property damages incurred by the Illinois resident.