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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1 AN ACT concerning vegetation.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Vegetative Buffer Act.
6 Section 5. Vegetative buffer protection; requirements.
7 (a) In this Section, "vegetative buffer" means an area
8consisting of perennial vegetation, excluding invasive plants
9and noxious weeds adjacent to all bodies of water within this
10State that protects the water resources from runoff pollution,
11stabilizes soils, shores, and banks to protect or provide
12riparian corridors.
13 (b) All State property adjacent to a body of water must
14contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot
15minimum width.
16 (c) State land subject to this Act shall be exempt if the
17land is:
18 (1) used as a public or private water access or
19 recreational use area including stairways, landings,
20 picnic areas, access paths, beach and watercraft access
21 areas, and permitted water-oriented structures;
22 (2) covered by a road, trail, building, or other
23 structure, whether or not it exists before or after the

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1 effective date of this Act;
2 (3) regulated by a national pollutant discharge
3 elimination system or State disposal system permit under
4 35 Ill. Adm. Code Section 309 and provides water resources
5 for riparian protection in any of the following
6 categories:
7 (A) municipal separate storm sewer system;
8 (B) construction stormwater;
9 (C) industrial storm water; or
10 (D) part of a water-inundation cropping system; or
11 (4) in a temporary non-vegetated condition due to
12 drainage tile installation and maintenance, alfalfa, or
13 other perennial crop or plant seeding, or construction or
14 conservation projects authorized by a federal, State, or
15 local government unit;
16 (5) used for agricultural purposes.
17 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
181, 2022.