HB5067 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 39058 BDA 69195 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5067

Introduced 2/8/2024, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Lawns to Legumes Act. Establishes the Lawns to Legumes Program, which requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide assistance for installing pollinator-friendly native plants in residential lawns to protect and support native species of pollinators. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules for the Program. Provides for individual support grants to reimburse Illinois residents for up to $400, subject to appropriation and other requirements. Provides for demonstration neighborhood grants to units of local government and nonprofit organizations through a request for proposal process, subject to appropriation and other requirements. Provides that homeowners associations and common interest communities may not prohibit the planting of pollinator habitats. Defines terms.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning conservation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Prairie Lawns Act.

Section 5. Department; defined. In this Act, "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.

Section 10. Prairie Lawns Program created.

(a) The Department shall establish and administer the Prairie Lawns Program to provide assistance for installing pollinator-friendly native plants in residential lawns in order to protect and support native species of bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, and other pollinators.

(b) To promote the Prairie Lawns Program, the Department shall:

(1) conduct outreach and publicity for the Program by, among other things:

(A) establishing and administering a public awareness campaign to raise awareness about creating pollinator habitats; and

(B) creating and providing a Prairie Lawns yard sign for grant recipients and making the sign available for download on the Department's website;

(2) provide educational assistance for installing pollinator-friendly native plants in residential lawns by, among other things:

(A) making educational materials available on the Department website; and

(B) offering units of local government and nonprofit organizations assistance with related education and outreach efforts;

(3) cooperate with units of local government and nonprofit organizations in creating demonstration neighborhoods, which are community projects intended to enhance pollinator habitats and raise awareness about pollinators.

A unit of local government or a nonprofit organization overseeing a demonstration neighborhood shall work with local residents to install pocket gardens, trees, bushes, shrubs, meadows, and lawns that are beneficial to pollinators in residential lawns.

Section 15. Individual support grants.

(a) The Department shall adopt rules and develop criteria to award through the Prairie Lawns Program individual support grants that will allow eligible Illinois residents to be reimbursed for up to $400 in costs associated with establishing a pollinator habitat in their yards.

(b) Individual support grant recipients must provide at least a 25% match for their total reimbursement request. This match can be in the form of purchasing materials, hiring contractors, or as in-kind time spent planting or maintaining plants.

(c) An individual support grant applicant shall submit a map of the applicant's completed project in the application for reimbursement.

(d) This Section is subject to appropriation.

Section 20. Demonstration neighborhood grants.

(a) The Department shall adopt rules and develop criteria to award demonstration neighborhood grants to units of local government and nonprofit organizations to create demonstration neighborhoods as described in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 10 of this Act.

(b) Units of local government and nonprofit organizations shall be invited to apply for individual support grants under this Act through a request for proposal process.

(c) This Section is subject to appropriation.

Section 25. No prohibition on pollinator habitats. Homeowners associations and common interest communities shall not prohibit any resident or homeowner from planting a pollinator habitat. Homeowners associations and common interest communities shall not enact or enforce rules and regulations that impair the proper maintenance and care of pollinator habitats. For the purpose of this Section, a "pollinator habitat" is any lawn, planted area of a lawn, or planter box or pot where there grows native flowers, native vegetation, or pollinator-friendly plants.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.