August 7, 2015

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois House of Representatives,

99th General Assembly:

Today I veto House Bill 227 from the 99th General Assembly. 

Current law requires a person using a non-powered watercraft to obtain a water usage stamp from the Department of Natural Resources, which is available for $6 per year. This bill would exempt “a non-resident operating a non-powered watercraft while engaged in a paddling event or race.”

Tourism is an important economic driver for Illinois, and I appreciate non-residents who come to Illinois to enjoy sporting events. The Department of Natural Resources has committed to working with event organizers to ensure that the organizers are able to sell stamps to participants on the day of the race.

While we work to make compliance more convenient and efficient, I do not support exempting one particular group of non-residents, particularly when Illinois residents are not being exempted.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 227, entitled “AN ACT concerning transportation”, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR