102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0863
 
Introduced 2/10/2021, by Rep. Joyce Mason
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
New Act

     Creates the Vegetative Buffer Act. Provides that all State property adjacent to a body of water must contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot minimum width. Exempts State land if certain conditions are present. Defines "vegetative buffer". Effective January 1, 2022.
  


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A BILL FOR
 

  
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1    AN ACT concerning vegetation.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Vegetative Buffer Act.
 
6    Section 5. Vegetative buffer protection; requirements.
7    (a) In this Section, "vegetative buffer" means an area 
8consisting of perennial vegetation, excluding invasive plants 
9and noxious weeds adjacent to all bodies of water within this 
10State  that protects the water resources from runoff pollution, 
11stabilizes soils, shores, and banks to protect or provide 
12riparian corridors.
13    (b) All State property adjacent to a body of water must 
14contain a vegetative buffer that at a minimum meets a 30-foot 
15minimum width.
16    (c) State land subject to this Act shall be exempt if the 
17land is:
18        (1) used as a public or private water access or 
19    recreational use area including stairways, landings, 
20    picnic areas, access paths, beach and watercraft access 
21    areas, and permitted water-oriented structures;
22        (2) covered by a road, trail, building, or other 
23    structure, whether or not it exists before or after the 
 
 
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1    effective date of this Act;
2        (3) regulated by a national pollutant discharge 
3    elimination system or State disposal system  permit under 
4    35 Ill. Adm. Code Section 309 and provides water resources 
5    for riparian protection in any of the following 
6    categories:
7            (A) municipal separate storm sewer system;
8            (B) construction stormwater;
9            (C) industrial storm water; or
10            (D) part of a water-inundation cropping system; or
11        (4) in a temporary non-vegetated condition due to 
12    drainage tile installation and maintenance, alfalfa, or 
13    other perennial crop or plant seeding, or construction or 
14    conservation projects authorized by a federal, State, or 
15    local government unit;
16        (5) used for agricultural purposes.
 
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
181, 2022.