HB 5118 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

DNR-PARK AND CONSERVATION FUND

Summary
Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that Department has the power to expend moneys appropriated to the Department from the Park and Conservation Fund in the State treasury for furtherance of the Department's programs or for use by the Department for the Department's normal operations and for the construction and maintenance of State owned, leased, and managed sites (rather than the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department). Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the Park and Conservation Fund Account in the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund 1/12 of $10,000,000, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months, for any purposes (rather than Conservation and Park purposes) as enumerated in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law or for the same purposes as specified in any other State general obligation bond Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the moneys deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund shall be used as provided for in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (rather than for the development and acquisition of bike paths).
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 21, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 16, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates how funds from vehicle registration fees are spent and clarifies the rules for the Build Illinois Fund. It shifts the focus from general conservation projects to specific uses: half the funds must go to the Department's normal operations, and the other half must be used for the construction and maintenance of state-owned parks and sites. It also formally establishes specific accounts within the Build Illinois Fund to manage these transfers.
Scope change
The bill modifies the scope of fund usage by restricting vehicle registration fee proceeds to specific operational and maintenance purposes rather than broader development projects.
FISCAL

Changed the use of vehicle registration fee proceeds so that 50% is allocated for departmental normal operations and 50% for the construction and maintenance of state-owned, leased, and managed sites.

Added a provision stating that monies in the Park and Conservation Fund and Illinois Fisheries Management Fund are exempt from administrative charges or chargebacks unless specifically authorized by the Act.

Established specific accounts within the Build Illinois Fund, including the McCormick Place Account, Build Illinois Bond Account, Build Illinois Purposes Account, and Park and Conservation Fund Account.

Updated the State Finance Act to clarify that the Comptroller must transfer funds from the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund for the purposes listed above.

Floor votes · House Apr 16, 2026

How they voted

1050
Passed · 11 other
Total votes 116
Apr 16, 2026
D Democratic76
71 Yea 5
93% Yea
R Republican40
34 Yea 6
85% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Apr 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 107-000-000
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate Revenue & Finance Committee; 020-000-000
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Revenue & Finance Committee
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors