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SB 3835

DNR-PARK AND CONSERVATION FUND

104th Regular Session Introduced by Elgie Sims

SB 3835 broadens DNR’s use of Park and Conservation Fund dollars for programs, operations, and site maintenance/construction, and reworks monthly transfers from Build Illinois to f

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 3835

Summary of SB 3835 (104th Illinois General Assembly)

Status: Introduced February 6, 2026. Referred to Appropriations; Rule 2-10/3rd Reading deadlines: May 15, 2026 (Committee) and April 24, 2026 (Rule 2-10). Prime sponsor: Sen. Elgie Sims Jr. Co-sponsor: Elgie Sims.

1) Purpose and Intent

SB 3835 seeks to adjust how money is appropriated and spent from the Park and Conservation Fund (a component of Illinois’ Build Illinois framework) and related state finance provisions. The bill expands the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) authority to expend Park and Conservation Fund dollars for its programs, normal operations, and the construction/maintenance of state-owned, leased, and managed sites, shifting emphasis from “ordinary and contingent expenses” to a broader set of uses aligned with conservation and park purposes. It also reaffirms and clarifies funding flows and uses of revenues from various vehicle-related fees to support park, conservation, and fisheries purposes.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

A. Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Authority (40 ILCS 805)

  • The DNR (Conservation) is granted authority to expend Park and Conservation Fund monies for:
    • Department programs
    • Department normal operations
    • Construction and maintenance of state-owned, leased, and managed sites
  • This broadens the scope beyond the prior specification of “ordinary and contingent expenses.”

B. Transfers to Park and Conservation Fund (20 ILCS 805/805-420)

  • The Comptroller and Treasurer are directed to transfer from the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund:
    • 1/12 of $10,000,000 per month, plus any cumulative deficiency from prior months
    • For purposes aligned with Park and Conservation Fund activities or for the same purposes as specified in post-1984 state general obligation bond acts
  • This creates a recurring monthly transfer mechanism tied to Build Illinois activity.

C. Illinois Vehicle Code Adjustments (625 ILCS 5)

  • Revenue from various vehicle-related fees (titles, registrations, etc.) and the disposition of those funds are adjusted as follows:
    • For certain certificate of title revenues, allocations include:
    • $2.60 to Park and Conservation Fund
    • $0.65 to Illinois Fisheries Management Fund
    • Other allocations to various funds (e.g., General Revenue, Secretary of State funds, Road Fund, Capital Projects Fund)
    • The Park and Conservation Fund monies from these sources are generally not subject to administrative charges or chargebacks unless otherwise authorized.
    • Vehicle registration fees and flat weight taxes include:
    • Allocations that fund normal operations vs. construction/maintenance (Park and Conservation Fund share)
    • A $2 surcharge (starting 2014) for Park and Conservation Fund funded conservation efforts
    • Several sections preserve or redirect portions of revenue to the State Construction Account Fund, Road Fund, and other specialized funds.

D. Build Illinois Fund (8.25) and Related Transfers

  • Reiterates and codifies transfer mechanics among Build Illinois subaccounts (Park and Conservation Fund, Tourism, etc.) and general revenue implications, tying back to bond-related obligations and debt service as they relate to bike paths, parks, and conservation infrastructure.

E. Other Vehicle-Related Fee Structure (619-Section Range)

  • Several tables outline fees for:
    • Motor vehicles (first division and second division) including flat weight taxes
    • Fees for camping trailers, motor homes, travel trailers, and farm trucks
    • Special hauling vehicle designations and farm vehicle surcharges
  • These sections specify how fees are allocated (e.g., a portion to Park and Conservation Fund, a portion to the Road Fund, and related special funds)

3) Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Department of Natural Resources (Conservation): Receives broader authorization to spend Park and Conservation Fund dollars on programs, operations, and site maintenance/construction.
  • State Treasury and Comptroller/Treasurer: Subject to new transfer rules from the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund (monthly transfers).
  • Public Revenue/Fees Recipients: Changes to disposition of fees from vehicle titles, registrations, and flat weight taxes affect multiple dedicated funds (Park and Conservation Fund, Illinois Fisheries Management Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Road Fund, etc.).
  • Bike Path and Conservation Projects: The Park and Conservation Fund continues to support acquisition, development, and maintenance of bike paths and related conservation initiatives via specified revenue channels.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill introduces or clarifies transfer orders and monthly funding streams tied to Build Illinois Fund activity, with explicit timing (1/12 of $10,000,000 per month plus cumulative deficiencies).
  • Several financial allocations reference longstanding statutory provisions and prior public acts (e.g., surcharge mechanisms that have been in place since 2013–2014, and farm/hauling vehicle provisions).
  • As introduced, the measure moves through the Appropriations committee with Rule 2-10 deadlines in spring 2026; final passage would require standard enactment processes and potential refinements during committee consideration.

Note: The bill primarily reorients funding flows to strengthen Park and Conservation Fund activities and expands DNR’s expenditure authority, while codifying and updating related vehicle fee allocations and transfers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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