Legislative Update: Hopes for 2027!
After a disappointing Spring Legislative season, which we recapped in our previous newsletter, here:
there has been at least one promising sign of change at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. A new Director has been appointed to replace previous Director (and Southern Illinois farmer) Natalie Phelps-Finnie.
Jim Montgomery was appointed as the new IDNR Director effective August 31 (pending Illinois Senate approval). According to a press release https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker-appoints-jim-montgomery-as-director-of-illinois-department-of-natural-resources from Governor Pritzker’s Office, “Montgomery brings decades of experience in conservation, public administration, and law enforcement, including previously serving as Commissioner and Director of Administration and Finance of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.”
Montgomery said ““As a native central Illinoisan with a lifelong passion for conservation and outdoor recreation, I’m thrilled to accept Governor Pritzker’s invitation to lead the Illinois Department of Natural Resources,” We can only hope that he brings with him passionate support for the recreational interests of the Illinois paddling community.
Montgomery has deep Illinois roots and political experience as well. The press release notes that “Montgomery began his career in Illinois working for the offices of several elected officials. He was also elected to serve two terms as Mayor of Taylorville, Illinois, from 1997-2005, where he became the youngest mayor in the history of that city and one of the youngest in the State of Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Millikin University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.”
Here at the IPC, we took a look at Massachusetts Law as it impacts paddling on rivers and found that paddlers and other outdoor enthusiasts have clear rights to paddle all of the rivers of Massachusetts and their Office of Fishing and Boating Access https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-fishing-and-boating-access provides the resources and access facilities throughout the state so the public may exercise these rights.
It seems reasonable to us to ask incoming Director Montgomery wouldn’t he want for recreational paddlers in his new state of Illinois at least what they had back in Massachusetts? How could he justify not supporting that? Massachusetts clearly endorses the “Public Trust Doctrine” which establishes that the waters of the state are part of the public trust and therefore are forever available for public use. This is all we’re asking for in Illinois.
So we’re hopeful for the next legislative session. We have strengthened our collaboration with both Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and American Whitewater and both have been tremendously helpful in advancing our efforts, as they have been with helping work on similar efforts in other states.
Our previous sponsor, Naperville Representative Janet Yang-Rohr, will introduce our bill once again (for the sixth year!) at the session beginning in January. Even now, it’s not too early to reach out to your Senators and Representatives asking them to support paddler’s rights in Illinois by supporting this bill to extend paddler’s rights to all Illinois rivers.
We’ll be sending more information out about the bill in the coming months and we’ll provide a legislative update with your chance for questions at our upcoming Annual Dinner at The Office in St. Charles on Saturday, November 14. Don’t miss it!
We hope to see you there!