104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3116
 
Introduced 2/2/2026, by Sen. Andrew S. Chesney
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
510 ILCS 20/2-4
510 ILCS 20/2a  from Ch. 8, par. 124a
510 ILCS 20/5  from Ch. 8, par. 126.1
    Amends the Bees and Apiaries Act. In provisions regarding right of entry, adds a requirement for consent of the beekeeper or landowner before entry. In provisions regarding intrastate transportation, provides that no person shall sell bees or used equipment without a permit which shall be issued based upon an inspection certificate from the Department of Agriculture, and that commercial operations wishing to transport hives for pollination or honey production or the sale of bees may request an annual health inspection certificate, which allows the transport of hives for pollination or honey production or the sale of bees for up to one year. Requires any person who sells bees, queens, or nucleus hives to obtain an inspection certificate or annual health inspection certificate. Deletes a prohibition against transporting a colony of bees or items of used bee equipment between counties within this State without a permit or compliance agreement based upon an inspection certificate from the Department. Directs the Department to adopt specified revisions to the rules in 8 Ill. Adm. Code Part 60 concerning diseased or parasitized colonies and permits.


LRB104 18335 BDA 31775 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
SB3116LRB104 18335 BDA 31775 b

1    AN ACT concerning animals.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Bees and Apiaries Act is amended by 
5changing Sections 2-4, 2a, and 5 as follows:
 
6    (510 ILCS 20/2-4)
7    Sec. 2-4. Right of entry. The Department shall have the 
8power to inspect or cause to be inspected from time to time any 
9bees, colonies, items of bee equipment or apiary. For the 
10purpose of inspection, the Director is authorized during 
11reasonable business hours to enter into or upon any property 
12used for the purpose of beekeeping with the beekeeper's 
13consent or the landowner's consent.
14(Source: P.A. 88-138.)
 
15    (510 ILCS 20/2a)  (from Ch. 8, par. 124a)
16    Sec. 2a. Intrastate transportation. 
17    (a) No person shall sell bees or used equipment without a 
18permit which shall be issued based upon an inspection 
19certificate from the Department. Commercial operations wishing 
20to transport hives for pollination or honey production or the 
21sale of bees may request an annual health inspection 
22certificate. Persons with annual health inspection 
 
 
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1certificates may transport hives for pollination or honey 
2production or the sale of bees for up to one year after the 
3date of the annual health inspection certificate. Any person 
4who sells bees, queens, or nucleus hives shall obtain an 
5inspection certificate or annual health inspection 
6certificate. No person shall transport a colony of bees or 
7items of used bee equipment between counties within this State 
8without a permit or compliance agreement which shall be issued 
9based upon an inspection certificate from the Department. 
10    (b) A colony of bees or items of used bee equipment 
11transported in violation of this Section may be held and 
12inspected by the Department, ordered returned to the place of 
13origin, or abated.
14(Source: P.A. 88-138.)
 
15    (510 ILCS 20/5)  (from Ch. 8, par. 126.1)
16    Sec. 5. Rules. 
17    (a) The Department Director is authorized to adopt 
18promulgate rules and regulations for the enforcement and 
19administration of this Act.
20    (b) The Department may adopt any rules necessary to 
21implement and administer the changes made to this Act by this 
22amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. As soon as 
23practical after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 
24the 104th General Assembly, the Department shall also adopt 
25amendments to the rules set forth in 8 Ill. Adm. Code Part 60 
 
 
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1as follows:
2        (1) The Department shall adopt amendments to the rules 
3    set forth in 8 Ill. Adm. Code 60.50 to provide that 
4    recommendations on treatments for parasites, virus loads, 
5    and other bee health issues recommended by inspectors 
6    shall be based on the Illinois State Beekeepers 
7    Association's best management practices only.
8        (2) The Department shall adopt amendments to the rules 
9    set forth in 8 Ill. Adm. Code 60.60 to delete and replace 
10    the requirements under that Section with requirements that 
11    are substantially similar to the following:
12            (A) All bees moved into the State shall be 
13        accompanied by health inspections from the state of 
14        origin as described by that state.
15            (B) Bees brought into the State for pollination or 
16        resale that do not have a health certificate provided 
17        by the origin state shall be required to obtain a 
18        health certificate from an Illinois inspector within 
19        30 days.
20            (C) Commercial operations and those selling 
21        queens, nucleus hives, or packages, including 
22        resellers, shall be required to obtain a health 
23        certificate from the state of origin or from an 
24        Illinois inspector unless covered by an annual health 
25        inspection certificate.
26            (D) Apiaries and commercial beekeepers engaged in 
 
 
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1        pollination or the sale of bees within the State of 
2        Illinois may be granted an annual health inspection 
3        certificate. Such certificate shall allow for movement 
4        or transport for pollination purposes, or the selling 
5        of queens, nucleus hives, or packages.
6            (E) Annual health inspection certificates are 
7        valid for one year. 
8(Source: P.A. 82-722.)