HB5165ham002 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

Filed: 4/10/2026

10400HB5165ham002 LRB104 20238 BDA 36453 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 5165

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 5165, AS AMENDED, by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public Waters Access Task Force Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) Illinois' rivers provide significant ecological, recreational, and economic benefits.

(2) Access to rivers for boating, paddling, angling, and other outdoor recreation is essential to supporting tourism, conservation, and public enjoyment of natural resources.

(3) Many communities across the State face barriers to safe, legal, and adequate river access.

(4) A coordinated, statewide evaluation is necessary to identify opportunities to expand and improve river access while balancing conservation, landowner interests, and public safety.

Section 10. Public Waters Access Task Force; creation.

(a) The Public Waters Access Task Force is created to study and make recommendations for increasing and improving public access to rivers for boaters, paddlers, and anglers throughout the State.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of 9 members, appointed as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) four members representing nongovernmental organizations, appointed by the Director of Natural Resources, as follows:

(A) three members representing organizations concerning outdoor recreation interests; and

(B) one member representing an organization concerning farm interests; and

(6) one member from the Department of Natural Resources, appointed by the Director of Natural Resources.

(c) The Task Force shall be co-chaired by:

(1) the member appointed under paragraph (6) of subsection (b); and

(2) one of the members appointed under paragraph (5) of subsection (b), selected by a majority vote of the members appointed under paragraph (5) of subsection (b).

Section 15. Duties of the Task Force. The Task Force shall:

(1) evaluate current public access to rivers across Illinois, including boat launches, public rights-of-way, easements, and informal access points;

(2) identify barriers to river access, including regulatory, physical, financial, and land-use challenges;

(3) consult with local governments, conservation groups, landowners, recreational users, and other stakeholders;

(4) review best practices from other states for expanding river access while protecting natural resources and respecting private property rights; and

(5) develop recommendations to increase and improve river access, including potential legislative, regulatory, and funding strategies.

Section 20. Support. The Department of Natural Resources shall provide administrative, technical, and logistical support to the Task Force.

Section 25. Report; repeal.

(a) The Task Force shall submit a final report containing its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than one year after the effective date of this Act.

(b) Upon submission of the final report, the Task Force is dissolved.

(c) This Act is repealed 2 years after the effective date of this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".