FISH & WILDLIFE-LICENSE FEES

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5597

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5597

Introduced 2/13/2026, by Rep. Wayne A. Rosenthal

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

515 ILCS 5/20-45

from Ch. 56, par. 20-45
520 ILCS 5/3.2

from Ch. 61, par. 3.2

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Provides
that the fee for an annual or a 3-year fishing or hunting license is $5 for
resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from
service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an
active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois
National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces.
LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b

A BILL FOR

HB5597
LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1

AN ACT concerning fees.

2

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

4

Section 5.
The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by
5
changing Section 20-45 as follows:

6

(515 ILCS 5/20-45)

(from Ch. 56, par. 20-45)
7

Sec. 20-45.
License fees for residents.
Fees for licenses
8
for residents of the State of Illinois shall be as follows:
9

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for
10

sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
11

spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, the fee is
12

$14.50 for individuals 16 to 64 years old, one-half of the
13

current fishing license fee for individuals age 65 or
14

older, and,
on and after the effective date of this
15

amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the fee is
16

$5

commencing with the 2012 license year, one-half of the
17

current fishing license fee
for resident veterans of the
18

United States Armed Forces after returning from service
19

abroad or mobilization by the President of the United
20

States as an active duty member of the United States Armed
21

Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of
22

the United States Armed Forces. Veterans must provide to
23

the Department acceptable verification of their service.

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1

The Department shall establish by administrative rule the
2

procedure by which such verification of service shall be
3

made to the Department for the purpose of issuing fishing
4

licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
5

(a-3) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,
6

for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
7

spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, residents
8

of this State may obtain a 3-year fishing license. The fee
9

for a 3-year fishing license is 3 times the annual fee. For
10

residents age 65 or older, the fee is one half of the fee
11

charged for a 3-year fishing license. For resident
12

veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
13

from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
14

the United States, the fee is
$5

one-half of the fee
15

charged for a 3-year fishing license
. Veterans must
16

provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
17

verification of their service. The Department shall
18

establish what constitutes suitable verification of
19

service for the purpose of issuing 3-year fishing licenses
20

to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
21

(a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be
22

$1 for an annual license and 3 times the annual fee for a
23

3-year license for residents over 75 years of age.
24

(b) All residents before using any commercial fishing
25

device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee
26

for which shall be $60
,
and a resident fishing license,

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1

the fee for which is $14.50. Each and every commercial
2

device used shall be licensed by a resident commercial
3

fisherman as follows:
4

(1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
5

thereof, of seine the fee is $18. For each minnow
6

seine, minnow trap, or net for commercial purposes the
7

fee is $20.
8

(2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot
9

line device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee
10

is $3.
11

(3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for
12

the first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of
13

gill net the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional
14

lineal feet, or fraction thereof, the fee is $10.
15

These fees shall apply to all gill nets in use in the
16

water or on drying reels on the shore.
17

(4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
18

thereof, of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
19

(c) Residents of this State may obtain a sportsmen's
20

combination license that shall entitle the holder to the
21

same non-commercial fishing privileges as residents
22

holding a license as described in subsection (a) of this
23

Section and to the same hunting privileges as residents
24

holding a license to hunt all species as described in
25

Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No sportsmen's
26

combination license shall be issued to any individual who

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1

would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting
2

license separately. The sportsmen's combination license
3

fee shall be $25.50. For residents age 65 or older, the fee
4

is one-half of the fee charged for a sportsmen's
5

combination license. For resident veterans of the United
6

States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or
7

mobilization by the President of the United States as an
8

active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
9

Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United
10

States Armed Forces, the fee, commencing with the 2012
11

license year, is one-half of the fee charged for a
12

sportsmen's combination license. Veterans must provide to
13

the Department acceptable verification of their service.
14

The Department shall establish by administrative rule the
15

procedure by which such verification of service shall be
16

made to the Department for the purpose of issuing
17

sportsmen's combination licenses to resident veterans at a
18

reduced fee.
19

(c-5) Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year
20

sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the
21

holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
22

residents holding a license as described in subsection
23

(a-3) and to the same hunting privileges as residents
24

holding a license to hunt all species as described in
25

Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. A 3-year sportsmen's
26

combination license shall not be issued to any individual

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1

who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting
2

license separately. The 3-year sportsmen's combination
3

license fee shall be 3 times the annual fee. For residents
4

age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for
5

a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. For resident
6

veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
7

from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
8

the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
9

for a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. Veterans
10

must provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
11

verification of their service. The Department shall
12

establish what constitutes suitable verification of
13

service for the purpose of issuing 3-year sportsmen's
14

combination licenses to resident veterans at a reduced
15

fee.
16

(d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices
17

as defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as
18

defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does
19

not exempt the licensee from the requirement for a salmon
20

or inland trout stamp. The licenses provided for by this
21

subsection are not required for residents of the State of
22

Illinois who have obtained the license provided for in
23

subsection (a) or (a-3) of this Section.
24

(e) All residents before using any commercial mussel
25

device shall obtain a commercial mussel license, the fee
26

for which shall be $50.

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1

(f) Residents of this State, upon establishing
2

residency as required by the Department, may obtain a
3

lifetime hunting or fishing license or lifetime
4

sportsmen's combination license which shall entitle the
5

holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
6

residents holding a license as described in
subsection

7

paragraph
(a) of this Section and to the same hunting
8

privileges as residents holding a license to hunt all
9

species as described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code.
10

No lifetime sportsmen's combination license shall be
11

issued to or retained by any individual who would be
12

ineligible for either the fishing or hunting license
13

separately, either upon issuance, or in any year a
14

violation would subject an individual to have either or
15

both fishing or hunting privileges rescinded. The lifetime
16

hunting and fishing license fees shall be as follows:
17

(1) Lifetime fishing: 30 x the current fishing
18

license fee.
19

(2) Lifetime hunting: 30 x the current hunting
20

license fee.
21

(3) Lifetime sportsmen's combination license: 30 x
22

the current sportsmen's combination license fee.
23

Lifetime licenses shall not be refundable. A $10 fee shall
24
be charged for reissuing any lifetime license. The Department
25
may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and use
26
of lifetime licenses and may suspend or revoke any lifetime

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
license issued under this Section for violations of those
2
rules or regulations or other provisions under this Code or
3
the Wildlife Code, or a violation of the United States Code
4
that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
5
transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any fish or
6
aquatic life protected by this Code or the taking, possessing,
7
killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or
8
importing any fauna protected by the Wildlife Code when any
9
part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois.
10
Individuals under 16 years of age who possess a lifetime
11
hunting or sportsmen's combination license shall have in their
12
possession, while in the field, a certificate of competency as
13
required under Section 3.2 of the Wildlife Code. Any lifetime
14
license issued under this Section shall not exempt individuals
15
from obtaining additional stamps or permits required under the
16
provisions of this Code or the Wildlife Code. Individuals
17
required to purchase additional stamps shall sign the stamps
18
and have them in their possession while fishing or hunting
19
with a lifetime license. All fees received from the issuance
20
of lifetime licenses shall be deposited in the Fish and
21
Wildlife Endowment Fund.
22

Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of this
23
Section, all licenses provided for in this Section shall
24
expire on March 31 of each year, except that the license
25
provided for in subsection (d) of this Section shall expire 24
26
hours after the effective date and time listed on the face of

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
the license. Licenses issued under subsection (a-3) or (c-5)
2
shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
3
which the license is issued.
4

The Department shall by administrative rule provide for
5
the automatic renewal of a fishing license upon the request of
6
the applicant.
7

All individuals required to have and failing to have the
8
license provided for in subsection (a), (a-3), or (d) of this
9
Section shall be fined according to the provisions of Section
10
20-35 of this Code.
11

All individuals required to have and failing to have the
12
licenses provided for in subsections (b) and (e) of this
13
Section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
14

(g) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
15
verification" means official documentation from the Department
16
of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing
17
mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a
18
DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military
19
Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a
20
letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the
21
Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command
22
covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel
23
records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other
24
documentation that the Department, by administrative rule,
25
deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service
26
abroad.

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1

For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
2
abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
3
States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
4
duty service in territories and possessions of the United
5
States.
6
(Source: P.A. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 102-837, eff. 5-13-22;
7
103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24; revised 7-3-25.)

8

Section 10.
The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
9
Section 3.2 as follows:

10

(520 ILCS 5/3.2)

(from Ch. 61, par. 3.2)
11

Sec. 3.2.
Hunting license; application; instruction.
12
Before the Department or any county, city, village, township,
13
incorporated town clerk or the clerk's duly designated agent
14
or any other person authorized or designated by the Department
15
to issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any
16
person, the person shall file the person's application with
17
the Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on
18
a form provided by the Department and further give definite
19
proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk
20
designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish
21
the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the
22
names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or the
23
clerk's duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell
24
licenses and stamps only within the territorial area for which

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
the clerk was elected or appointed. No duly designated agent
2
is authorized to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by
3
any other business establishment. Each application shall be
4
executed and sworn to and shall set forth the name and
5
description of the applicant and place of residence.
6

No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or
7
after January 1, 1980 unless that person presents the person
8
who is authorized to issue the license evidence that the
9
person seeking the license has held a hunting license issued
10
by the State of Illinois in a prior year, or a certificate of
11
competency as provided in this Section. Persons under 18 years
12
of age may be issued a Lifetime Hunting or Sportsmen's
13
Combination License as provided under Section 20-45 of the
14
Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not be entitled to hunt
15
alone, without the supervision of an adult age 21 or older,
16
unless they have a certificate of competency as provided in
17
this Section and the certificate is in their possession while
18
hunting.
19

The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize
20
personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors
21
to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in
22
firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow
23
and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout
24
the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall
25
receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural
26
Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
or organization in establishing courses if the organization
2
has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the
3
handling of firearms or bow and arrow.
4

The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any
5
person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the
6
handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The
7
persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and
8
upon the successful completion shall issue to the person
9
instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of
10
firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be
11
made for any course of instruction except for materials or
12
ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall
13
furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety
14
education programs to be distributed free of charge to
15
applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and
16
authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of
17
firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee
18
charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card.
19

The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a
20
resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older,
21
and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident veterans
22
of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service
23
abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States
24
as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
25
Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States
26
Armed Forces,
the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of
2
Illinois.
On and after the effective date of this amendatory
3
Act of the 104th General Assembly, the fee for a hunting
4
license to hunt all species is $5 for resident veterans of the
5
United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad
6
or mobilization by the President of the United States as an
7
active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
8
Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States
9
Armed Forces.
Veterans must provide to the Department
10
acceptable verification of their service. The Department shall
11
establish by administrative rule the procedure by which such
12
verification of service shall be made to the Department for
13
the purpose of issuing resident veterans hunting licenses at a
14
reduced fee. The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species
15
shall be $1 for residents over 75 years of age. Nonresidents
16
shall be charged $57 for a hunting license.
17

Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year hunting
18
license to hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 for 3
19
times the annual fee. For residents age 65 or older
and
20
resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after
21
returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President
22
of the United States
, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
23
for a 3-year hunting license to hunt all species as described
24
in Section 3.1 for a resident of this State. Veterans must
25
provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
26
verification of their service.
For resident veterans of the

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad
2
or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee
3
is $5.
The Department shall establish what constitutes
4
suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing
5
resident veterans 3-year hunting licenses at a reduced fee.
6

Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license
7
for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the
8
State and shall be charged a fee of $35.
9

A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a
10
nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding
11
and hunting preserve area only, established under Section
12
3.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and
13
payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license.
14
The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date
15
each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area
16
licenses expire.
17

Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp,
18
regardless of the applicant's residence or other condition,
19
shall pay a fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a
20
State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents
21
over 75 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of
22
the Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by
23
the person or affixed to the person's license or permit in a
24
space designated by the Department for that purpose.
25

Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of
26
the applicant's residence or other condition, shall pay a fee

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
of $5 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat
2
Stamp shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.
3
Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic
4
Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed
5
to the person's license or permit in a space designated by the
6
Department for that purpose.
7

Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require
8
the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person
9
in any one license year.
10

The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer
11
Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.
12

The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting
13
licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession
14
of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may
15
consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used
16
as the Department may order.
17

All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall
18
expire upon March 31 of each year. Three-year hunting licenses
19
shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
20
which the license is issued.
21

Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued
22
under the provisions of this Act shall have it in the person's
23
possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the
24
officers and authorized employees of the Department, any
25
sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a
26
demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department

HB5597
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LRB104 18407 BDA 31849 b
1
owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters
2
deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's
3
Identification Card at the check station upon entering the
4
hunting areas.
5

For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
6
verification" means official documentation from the Department
7
of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing
8
mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a
9
DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military
10
Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a
11
letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the
12
Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command
13
covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel
14
records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other
15
documentation that the Department, by administrative rule,
16
deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service
17
abroad.
18

For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
19
abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
20
States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
21
duty service in territories and possessions of the United
22
States.
23
(Source: P.A. 103-456, eff. 1-1-24; 104-325, eff. 1-1-26
.)

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