Bill
SB 2435
Expands the Urban and Community Forestry Act to boost canopy in underserved areas via grants with a 50% match and a 5% per-grant cap, overseen by the DNR.
Status: Died in Committee
Bill Number: SB 2435
Sponsor: Sen. Karina Villa
Introduced: Feb 7, 2025 (filed/received March 13, 2025)
Subject: Finance; Veterans and Military Affairs (classification); actually amends the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Act
Companion: HB 2761
Note on document inconsistency
- The header information you provided lists a title about disabled veterans' license tags (bearing the International Symbol of Access). The full bill text and synopsis attached to SB 2435 amend the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Act (30 ILCS 735). This summary focuses on the actual statutory changes shown in the bill text (forestry/grants). The bill ultimately was reported as "Died In Committee."
Purpose and intent
- To update and expand the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Act by clarifying definitions, refining Department of Natural Resources (DNR) duties, specifying eligible activities for forestry grant requests, and setting grant matching and award limits — with an emphasis on building tree canopy, especially in underserved or disadvantaged communities.
Key provisions and changes
- Amendments to definitions (30 ILCS 735/2):
- Clarifies “applicant” to include units of local government and Illinois-chartered not-for-profit corporations acting as co-applicants.
- Defines/clarifies terms such as “public trees,” “public tree inventory,” “underserved or disadvantaged” (as determined by the USDA Forest Service for federal grant purposes), “Urban and Community Forestry Proposal,” and “Urban and Community Forestry Management Plan” (must be based on a public tree inventory less than 10 years old and contain specified baseline content).
- Duties of the Department of Natural Resources (30 ILCS 735/4):
- Directs DNR to promote development of urban/community forestry plans, provide technical expertise and planning assistance, review and approve grant proposals, provide oversight and assistance to grant recipients and local governments, and provide information to the Illinois Council on Forestry Development and other agencies.
- Grant application criteria (30 ILCS 735/5):
- Requests for grant assistance must include activities that, among other things:
- Implement current Illinois Forest Action Plan objectives;
- Fulfill local forestry program management objectives as determined by an urban/community forestry management plan;
- Build tree canopy capacity in underserved or disadvantaged areas; or
- Improve urban and community forest canopy or lead to development of a forestry management plan.
- Multiple applicants may apply jointly; award payment terms subject to DNR approval.
- DNR evaluation criteria include environmental improvement, job creation in tree care, human health and heat-island mitigation benefits, community commitment to forest management, public awareness, volunteer participation, and assistance to underserved communities.
- Grants; sources and amounts (30 ILCS 735/6):
- Grants limited to available appropriations (Urban and Community Forestry Development Fund or other appropriations).
- Applicants must provide at least a 50% match of project cost.
- A single grant to a unit of local government may not exceed 5% of the amount allocated for the grant program by DNR in the current fiscal year.
- DNR must consult with the Forestry Development (advisory) body in administering grants (text truncated in source).
Who would be affected
- Department of Natural Resources (expanded duties).
- Units of local government (cities, towns, counties) seeking forestry grants and required to meet matching funds and plan requirements.
- Illinois not-for-profit corporations working as co-applicants with local governments.
- Underserved and disadvantaged communities targeted for canopy-building and equity-focused projects.
- Contractors and workforce engaged in urban/tree care, planting, and maintenance (potential job creation).
- State budget/appropriations for urban/community forestry grant programs.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced by Sen. Karina Villa (bill text dated 2/7/2025; filed/received March 13, 2025).
- Legislative actions list referrals to Assignments, Veterans and Military Affairs and Finance committees, Appropriations assignment, and a first reading on March 25, 2025.
- Status recorded as Died In Committee (bill did not advance to enactment).
Potential impact
- If enacted, the changes would strengthen programmatic emphasis on canopy expansion (especially in underserved areas), formalize partnerships with not‑for‑profits, tighten application requirements (inventory-based management plans), and impose firm fiscal match and per-recipient caps — potentially stretching limited grant funds more broadly but requiring greater local financial participation (50% match).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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