Clarifying Illinois’ Muddy Waters: The New HB 5165 – The “Public Waters Access Act”

A new bill has been introduced to the Illinois General Assembly to “clarify the muddy waters” in Illinois paddlers’ access law and permit paddlers full and complete access to all of the public and navigable waters of Illinois. If you’re new to this issue, please review THIS ARTICLE from the Illinois Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, who has played a leading role in getting HB5165 to the place that it is.

The new bill is the “Public Waters Access Act” and is designated as HB5165. You can review the bill, along with House amendment 1, which includes changes suggested by the IPC and others, HERE and you can track it’s progress through the General Assembly HERE.

At this time, IPC will focus on helping to get HB 5165 passed through the Illinois legislature while efforts to advance the previous bill, HB 1873, are on hiatus. We feel HB5165 is drafted in such a way as to both appease concerns of and thereby gain support from groups in our state who may have been less supportive of HB 1873. We feel like this bill has a greater likelihood of passage overall.

As the bill emerges from the Agriculture and Conservation committee, we’ll be asking supporters – including all of YOU – to engage in a full scale, outreach effort to get our Representatives and Senators to vote for HB5165.

Keep visiting illinoispaddling.org for the latest updates.