HB5309 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17098 BDA 30517 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5309

Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Anna Moeller

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/2.2

from Ch. 61, par. 2.2

Amends the Wildlife Code. Specifies that the mute swan (Cygnus olor) is not a migratory game bird that is to be protected by the Code.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning wildlife.

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

Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section 2.2 as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/2.2) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.2)

Sec. 2.2. This Act shall apply only to the wild birds and parts of wild birds (including, but not limited to, their nests and eggs), and wild mammals and parts of wild mammals, which shall include their green hides, in the State of Illinois, or which may be brought into the State.

Wildlife protected by this Act, hereby defined as protected species, include the following wild species and all wild species contained in listed families, including, but not limited to, groups of wild species preceding each family name: (except the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus; European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris; and Rock Pigeon, Domestic Pigeon, Columba livia; Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto; Ringed Turtle-Dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea; Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyio; or Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata). GAME BIRDS-Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus; Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus; Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus; Gray Partridge, Perdix perdix; Chukar, Alectoris chukar; Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus; Greater Prairie Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido; Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo. MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS-Waterfowl including brant, ducks, geese, and swans (except Cygnus olor), Anatidae; wild species of the families Rallidae (Virginia Rails and Sora Rails), Scolopacidae (Wilson's Snipe and Woodcock), Columbidae (Mourning Dove and White-winged Dove), and Corvidae that may be legally hunted as provided for in Section 2.18 of this Act. RESIDENT AND MIGRATORY NON-GAME BIRDS-Loons, Gaviidae; grebes, Podicipedidae; pelicans, Pelecanidae; gannets, Sulidae; cormorants, Phalacrocoracidae; anhingas, Anhingidae; frigatebirds, Fregatidae; herons, bitterns and egrets, Ardeidae; ibises and spoonbills, Threskiornithidae; storks, Ciconiidae; vultures, Cathartidae; kites, hawks, ospreys, and eagles, Accipitridae; falcons, merlins, and kestrels, Falconidae; rails, gallinules, and moorhens, which may not be legally hunted, Rallidae (unless listed as a migratory game bird); cranes, Gruidae; all shorebirds that may not be legally hunted, of the families Charadriidae, Scolopacidae (unless listed as a migratory game bird), and Recurvirostridae gulls, terns, jaegers, skimmers, and kittiwakes, Laridae; dovekies and murrelets, Alcidae; doves and pigeons, which may not be legally hunted, Columbidae (unless listed as a migratory game bird); cuckoos and anis, Cuculidae; owls, Tytonidae and Strigidae; whip-poor-wills, chuck-will's-widows, and nighthawks, Caprimulgidae; swifts, Apodidae; hummingbirds, Trochilidae, Kingfishers, Alcedinidae; woodpeckers, flickers, and sapsuckers, Picidae; kingbirds, pewees, phoebes, and flycatchers, Tyrannidae shrikes, Laniidae; vireos, Vireonidae; magpies, ravens, and jays, Corvidae; larks, Alaudidae; swallows and martins, Hirundinidae; chickadees and titmice, Paridae; nuthatches, Sittidae; creepers, Certhiidae; wrens, Troglodytidae; kinglets, Regulidae; gnatcatchers, Sylviidae; robins, bluebirds, solitaires, veerys, and thrushes, Turdidae; mockingbirds, catbirds, and thrashers, Mimidae; pipits, Motacillidae; waxwings, Bombycillidae; warblers, parulas, redstarts, ovenbirds, waterthrushes, yellowthroats, and chats, Parulidae; tanagers, Thraupidae; towhees, longspurs, sparrows, buntings, and juncos, Emberizidae; dickcissels, cardinals, buntings, and grosbeaks, Cardinalidae; blackbirds, meadowlarks, bobolinks, grackles, cowbirds, and orioles, Icteridae; grosbeaks, finches, crossbills, redpolls, and siskins, Fringillidae. GAME MAMMALS-Woodchuck, Marmota monax; Gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis; Fox squirrel, Sciurus niger; Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus; Swamp rabbit, Sylvilagus aquaticus; White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus. FUR-BEARING MAMMALS-Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus; Beaver, Castor canadensis; Raccoon, Procyon lotor; Opossum, Didelphis virginiana; Least weasel, Mustela nivalis; Long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata; Mink, Mustela vison; River otter, Lontra canadensis; Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis; Badger, Taxidea taxus; Red fox, Vulpes vulpes; Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus; Coyote, Canis latrans; Bobcat, Lynx rufus. OTHER MAMMALS-Flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans; Red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus; Eastern Woodrat, Neotoma floridana; Golden Mouse, Ochrotomys nuttalli; Rice Rat, Oryzomys palustris; Franklin's Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus franklinii; Bats, Vespertilionidae; Gray wolf, Canis lupus; American black bear, Ursus americanus; Cougar, Puma concolor.

It shall be unlawful for any person at any time to take, possess, sell, or offer for sale, propagate, or release into the wild, any of these wild birds (dead or alive) and parts of wild birds (including, but not limited to, their nests and eggs), wild mammals (dead or alive) and parts of wild mammals, including their green hides contrary to the provisions of this Act. However, nothing in this Act shall prohibit bona-fide public or state scientific, educational or zoological institutions from receiving, holding, and displaying protected species that were salvaged or legally obtained.

It shall be unlawful for any person to take any other living wildlife animal not covered by this Act without the permission of the landowner or tenant.

(Source: P.A. 103-23, eff. 1-1-24.)