WILDLIFE CD-FUR FACILITY

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4777

Introduced , by Rep. Theresa Mah

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/3.25

from Ch. 61, par. 3.25
520 ILCS 5/3.25a new
30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new

Amends the Wildlife Code. Requires fur facilities to be licensed by
the Department of Natural Resources in order to continue operating.
Provides that a person is not eligible to obtain a fur facility license for
a fur facility that was not owned or operated in the State before the
effective date of the amendatory Act. Specifies that a person who owns or
operates a fur facility before the effective date of the amendatory Act
must obtain a fur facility license from the Department for the facility by
January 1, 2028 in order to continue owning or operating the facility on or
after January 1, 2028. Limits the transferability of licenses after
January 1, 2028. Establishes various license application requirements.
Requires the Department to inspect fur facilities before granting or
renewing a fur facility license. Provides that a fur facility license may
be granted by the Department only if the Department determines the
facility meets certain requirements. Creates the Fur Facility Fund as a
special fund in the State treasury. Provides that amounts in the Fund must
be used by the Department to finance the administration and enforcement of
the licensing system established by the amendatory Act. Specifies that the
Department of Natural Resources must revoke the license of any person who
violates the licensing requirements added by the amendatory Act and may
confiscate the person's fur-bearing mammals. Establishes criminal
penalties for violations of the licensing requirements added by the
amendatory Act. Exempts fur facility license holders from the Code's
fur-bearing mammal breeder permitting requirements. Defines various terms.
Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.
LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b

A BILL FOR

HB4777
LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

AN ACT concerning wildlife.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 5.
The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
5
Section 3.25 and by adding Section 3.25a as follows:

6

(520 ILCS 5/3.25)

(from Ch. 61, par. 3.25)
7

Sec. 3.25.
Any individual who, within the State of
8
Illinois, holds, possesses or engages in the breeding or
9
raising of live fur-bearing mammals, protected by this Act,
10
except as provided in Sections 1.6
,

or
1.7,
or 3.25a,
shall be
11
a fur-bearing mammal breeder in the meaning of this Act.
12
Before any individual shall hold, possess or engage in the
13
breeding or raising of live fur-bearing mammals, he shall
14
first procure a fur-bearing mammal breeder permit. Fur-bearing
15
mammal breeder permits shall be issued by the Department. The
16
annual fee for each fur-bearing mammal breeder permit shall be
17
$25. All fur-bearing mammal breeder permits shall expire on
18
March 31 of each year.
19

Holders of fur-bearing mammal breeder permits may hold,
20
possess, engage in the breeding or raising, sell, or otherwise
21
dispose of live fur-bearing mammals or their green hides,
22
possessed thereunder, at any time of the year.
23

Fur-bearing mammal breeders shall keep a record for 2

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1
years from the date of the acquisition, sale or other
2
disposition of each live fur-bearing mammal or its green hide
3
so raised or propagated, showing the date of such transaction,
4
the name and address of the individual receiving or buying
5
such live fur-bearing mammal or its green hide, and when
6
requested to do so, shall furnish such individual with a
7
certificate of purchase showing the number and kinds of live
8
fur-bearing mammals or green hides so disposed of, the date of
9
the transaction, the name and permit number of the breeder,
10
and the name of the individual receiving, collecting, or
11
buying such live fur-bearing mammals or green hides, and such
12
other information as the Department may require. Such records
13
and certificates of purchase shall be immediately presented to
14
officers or authorized employees of the Department, any
15
sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other peace officer when request
16
is made for same. Failure to produce such records or
17
certificates of purchase shall be prima facie evidence that
18
such live fur-bearing mammals or green hides are contraband
19
with the State of Illinois. The holder of a fur-bearing mammal
20
breeder permit may exhibit fur-bearing mammals commercially.
21

Nothing in this Section shall be construed to give any
22
such permittee authority to take fur-bearing mammals in their
23
wild state contrary to other provisions of this Act, or to
24
remove such permittee from responsibility for the observance
25
of any Federal Laws, rules or regulations which may apply to
26
such fur-bearing mammals.

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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

Holders of fur-bearing mammal breeder permits may import
2
fur-bearing mammals into the State of Illinois but may release
3
the same only after health and disease prevention requirements
4
set forth by the Director and other State agencies have been
5
met and permission of the Director has been granted.
6

The breeding, raising and producing in captivity, and the
7
marketing, by the producer, of mink (Mustela vison), red fox
8
(Vulpes vulpes) or arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), as live
9
animals, or as animal pelts or carcasses shall be deemed an
10
agricultural pursuit, and all such animals so raised in
11
captivity shall be deemed domestic animals, subject to all the
12
laws of the State with reference to possession and ownership
13
as are applicable at any time to domestic animals. All
14
individuals engaged in the foregoing activities are fur
15
farmers and engaged in farming for all statutory purposes.
16
Such individuals are exempt from the fur-bearing mammal
17
breeder permit requirements set forth in this Section if: (1)
18
they are defined as farmers for Federal income tax purposes,
19
and (2) at least 20 percent of their gross farm income as
20
reported on Federal tax form Schedule F (Form 1040) for the
21
previous year is generated from the sale of mink, red fox or
22
arctic fox as live animals, animal pelts or carcasses.
23

No fur-bearing mammal breeder permits will be issued to
24
hold, possess, or engage in the breeding and raising of
25
striped skunks acquired after July 1, 1975, or coyotes
26
acquired after July 1, 1978, except for coyotes that are held

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1
or possessed by a person who holds a hound running area permit
2
under Section 3.26 of this Act. No fur-bearing mammal breeder
3
permits will be issued to hold, possess, or engage in the
4
breeding and raising of any dangerous animal as defined in
5
Section 48-10 of the Criminal Code of 2012 acquired after July
6
1, 2022 except for coyotes that are held or possessed by a
7
person who holds a hound running area permit under Section
8
3.26.
9
(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

10

(520 ILCS 5/3.25a new)
11

Sec. 3.25a.
Finding Urgent Relief from Vectors for
12
Infection Risk and Unchecked Spillover.
13

(a) The General Assembly finds that:
14

(1) The public health concerns associated with fur
15

facilities are multifaceted, involving risks of zoonotic
16

disease transmission, environmental contamination, and
17

antibiotic resistance.
18

(2) Intensive confinement and slaughter practices at
19

fur facilities facilitate the spread of viruses. These
20

facilities house large numbers of animals in pens or cages
21

in close proximity to each other, which promotes disease
22

transmission. Due to the cramped and unnatural conditions,
23

the animals experience extreme stress, which increases the
24

potential to shed and transmit viruses over extended
25

periods. This risk is further exacerbated by on-site

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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

slaughter practices that create additional points of
2

exposure.
3

(3) Two notable zoonotic disease risks at fur
4

facilities include SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A virus
5

subtype H5N1.
6

(4) Mink pose a particularly high risk to humans
7

because a mink's upper respiratory tract is
8

physiologically similar to a human's respiratory tract,
9

which means mink can become infected and potentially
10

transmit to people some of the same respiratory viruses.
11

Minks' susceptibility to acquiring and spreading human and
12

animal respiratory viruses renders them potentially potent
13

for generating novel pandemic viruses.
14

(5) Tens of thousands of captive mink in the United
15

States and millions of captive mink worldwide have been
16

infected with SARS-CoV-2, creating opportunities for the
17

virus to mutate into new and more dangerous variants.
18

There have been documented cases of mink at fur facilities
19

transmitting a variant of the virus to humans.
20

(6) Foxes, mink, and raccoon dogs at fur facilities
21

infected with Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 create
22

opportunities for spillover to humans. In at least one fur
23

facility, the virus gained a mutation that favors
24

mammal-to-mammal spread.
25

(b) It is the purpose of this Section to protect public
26
health and human safety by licensing existing fur facilities

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1
and ending the establishment of new fur facilities in this
2
State.
3

(c) As used in this Section:
4

"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.
5

"Fur" means any animal skin with hair, fleece, or fur
6
fibers attached, either in its raw or processed state.
7

"Fur facility" means any operation that owns, controls,
8
breeds, raises, propagates, keeps, skins, or slaughters
9
captive-held fur-bearing mammals for the purpose of profiting
10
from their fur.
11

"Fur-bearing mammal" has the meaning set forth in Section
12
1.2g of this Code.
13

"Person" includes any individual, firm, corporation,
14
trust, association, copartnership, society, or other
15
organization of individuals and any other business unit,
16
device, or arrangement.
17

(d) To own or operate a fur facility, a person must have a
18
fur facility license issued by the Department.
19

(e) A person who owns or operates a fur facility before the
20
effective date of this Section must obtain a fur facility
21
license from the Department for the facility on or before
22
January 1, 2028 in order to continue owning or operating the
23
facility on or after January 1, 2028.
24

(f) A person is not eligible to obtain a fur facility
25
license for a fur facility that was not owned or operated in
26
the State before the effective date of this Section.

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

(g) A fur facility license holder is exempt from the
2
fur-bearing mammal breeder permit requirements set forth in
3
this Code.
4

(h) After January 1, 2028, a fur facility license is
5
nontransferable to a new owner or operator.
6

(i) A person must apply annually to the Department for a
7
fur facility license.
8

(1) At the time of obtaining or renewing a license,
9

the person who is being issued the license shall pay a fee
10

of $1,000.
11

(2) Each fur facility license application requires:
12

(A) the full contact information for all owners
13

and operators of the fur facility;
14

(B) the address for each place of business where a
15

fur facility conducts business;
16

(C) the legal descriptions of any lands upon which
17

the fur facility conducts business;
18

(D) all trade names under which the fur facility
19

conducts business;
20

(E) the number of individuals who work at each fur
21

facility;
22

(F) the number, species, and sex of individual
23

fur-bearing mammals raised for fur within the previous
24

year at each fur facility;
25

(G) the source of each individual fur-bearing
26

mammal raised for fur kept at each fur facility within

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

the previous year;
2

(H) a detailed description of how the fur-bearing
3

mammals raised for fur were transported to and from
4

each fur facility within the previous year, including
5

the route taken, if applicable;
6

(I) the number of individual fur-bearing mammals
7

purchased, transferred, or sold by each fur facility
8

within the previous year and the name of each person or
9

entity to whom or from whom those fur-bearing mammals
10

were purchased, transferred, or sold;
11

(J) a description of the size, number, and type of
12

pens, cages, or other such enclosures used by the fur
13

facility;
14

(K) a description of the barriers used to contain
15

the fur-bearing mammals at the fur facility, as well
16

as the barriers used to prevent other animals from
17

gaining access to the fur facility;
18

(L) a description of the procedures the fur
19

facility uses to dispose of manure or carcasses or and
20

any parts of carcasses;
21

(M) a description of the practices and procedures
22

used by the fur facility within the previous year to
23

ensure the health and safety of workers, the public,
24

and the fur-bearing mammals and animals on and around
25

the facility; and
26

(N) the number of fur-bearing mammals kept at the

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

fur facility who died or were killed within the
2

previous year, the cause of death, and, if killed by
3

humans, the reason each was killed and the method
4

used.
5

(3) Each fur facility shall be inspected, annually, by
6

the Department, prior to the granting or renewal of a
7

license, to ensure compliance with this Section and other
8

applicable laws and regulations. Following each
9

inspection, the Department shall produce a report stating
10

its decision on whether to grant or renew a license and how
11

the fur facility complies with the terms of its license.
12

(4) A license may be granted only if the Department
13

finds that, following an inspection, the application is
14

made in good faith with the intention to carry on the
15

business described in the application, and if the
16

Department also determines that:
17

(A) the facility is constructed to minimize
18

fur-bearing mammal escapes and additional protections
19

are put in place if escapes occur following
20

construction;
21

(B) there are adequate security and safety
22

programs and procedures that minimize the possibility
23

of fur-bearing mammal escapes;
24

(C) there is adequate recordkeeping to aid in
25

tracking of confined fur-bearing mammals or recovery
26

of escaped fur-bearing mammals;

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

(D) there are adequate procedures, equipment, and
2

trained staff to maximize capture of escaped
3

fur-bearing mammals;
4

(E) adequate veterinary care and animal husbandry
5

is provided to identify and minimize the spread of
6

diseases; and
7

(F) the applicant has not been convicted of or
8

received any citations for violating environmental,
9

animal cruelty, or wildlife laws or regulations.
10

(f) The Fur Facility Fund is established as a special fund
11
in the State treasury. Fees collected under this Section and
12
interest attributable to moneys in the Fur Facility Fund must
13
be deposited into Fur Facility Fund. Subject to appropriation,
14
moneys in the Fund, including interest earned, must be used by
15
the Department to help fund the administration and enforcement
16
of this Section.
17

(g) If a licensee does not comply with any provision of
18
this Section, the Department shall, after notice and an
19
opportunity to be heard, revoke the licensee's license and may
20
confiscate the fur-bearing mammals at the fur facility.
21

(1) A person who operates a fur facility without a
22

license after January 1, 2028 commits a Class C
23

misdemeanor. The Department, or a representative of a unit
24

of local government approved by the Department for this
25

purpose, shall report any violation of this Section to the
26

State's Attorney of the county in which the violation

HB4777
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LRB104 17214 BDA 30634 b
1

occurred. Each day a violation continues constitutes a
2

separate offense.
3

(2) The penalties described in this Section may be
4

enforced by the Attorney General bringing an action in a
5

court of competent jurisdiction. The application of this
6

Section does not preclude an action by the Attorney
7

General seeking equitable or other remedies in connection
8

with the enforcement of this Section.

9

Section 10.
The State Finance Act is amended by adding
10
Section 5.1038 as follows:

11

(30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new)
12

Sec. 5.1038.
The Fur Facility Fund.

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