Bill Text: IL HB0863 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Vegetative Buffer Act. Provides that all State property adjacent to a body of water must contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot minimum width. Exempts State land if certain conditions are present. Defines "vegetative buffer". Effective January 1, 2022.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-27 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB0863 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HB0863-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 HB0863 Introduced , by Rep. Joyce Mason SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Vegetative Buffer Act. Provides that all State property adjacent to a body of water must contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot minimum width. Exempts State land if certain conditions are present. Defines "vegetative buffer". Effective January 1, 2022.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning vegetation.
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
Vegetative Buffer Act.
Section 5. Vegetative buffer protection; requirements.
(a) In this Section, "vegetative buffer" means an area
consisting of perennial vegetation, excluding invasive plants
and noxious weeds adjacent to all bodies of water within this
State that protects the water resources from runoff pollution,
stabilizes soils, shores, and banks to protect or provide
riparian corridors.
(b) All State property adjacent to a body of water must
contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot
minimum width.
(c) State land subject to this Act shall be exempt if the
land is:
(1) used as a public or private water access or
recreational use area including stairways, landings,
picnic areas, access paths, beach and watercraft access
areas, and permitted water-oriented structures;
(2) covered by a road, trail, building, or other
structure, whether or not it exists before or after the

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effective date of this Act;
(3) regulated by a national pollutant discharge
elimination system or State disposal system permit under
35 Ill. Adm. Code Section 309 and provides water resources
for riparian protection in any of the following
categories:
(A) municipal separate storm sewer system;
(B) construction stormwater;
(C) industrial storm water; or
(D) part of a water-inundation cropping system; or
(4) in a temporary non-vegetated condition due to
drainage tile installation and maintenance, alfalfa, or
other perennial crop or plant seeding, or construction or
conservation projects authorized by a federal, State, or
local government unit;
(5) used for agricultural purposes.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
1, 2022.