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HB 3612

Relating to access to resources for development in Curry County.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Court Boice and 1 co-sponsor

HB 3612 lets the Fox Waterway Agency levy a general property tax within its boundaries (by majority board vote) to fund operating, maintenance, dredging, and related projects.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3612

Summary — HB 3612 (104th General Assembly, 2025-2026)

Title: Relating to access to resources for development in Curry County / Amendment to the Fox Waterway Agency Act
Primary sponsor: Rep. Joyce Mason
Citation amended: 615 ILCS 90/7.2
Status: In committee upon adjournment (6/28/2025)

Purpose / Intent

HB 3612 amends Section 7.2 of the Fox Waterway Agency Act to remove an existing prohibition on the Agency’s ability to levy property taxes and to expressly authorize the Agency’s board to levy and collect a general property tax on property within the Agency’s corporate limits. The change is intended to expand the Agency’s revenue sources to pay operating, maintenance, and other corporate expenses related to the waterway.

Key provisions and changes

  • Removes the sentence in 615 ILCS 90/7.2 that stated the Fox Waterway Agency “shall not have the authority to impose any property tax.”
  • Adds explicit authority: the Agency’s board may levy and collect a general property tax on any property within the Agency’s corporate limits for the purpose of paying costs of operating and maintaining the waterway and other corporate expenses. The tax must be authorized by a majority vote of the Board.
  • Existing authorities in Section 7.2 that remain or are clarified:
    • The Agency may charge reasonable user fees for recreational and commercial boating and must adopt a fee schedule.
    • The Agency may issue revenue bonds and borrow from financial institutions, and must hold public hearings before establishing/changing user fees or soliciting revenue bonds/borrowings.
    • The Agency may issue stickers as evidence of user-fee payment and may impose civil penalties (up to $500 per violation) for knowingly using the waterway without paying required fees.
    • The Agency may sell dredging materials as reclaimed topsoil.
    • At least 75% of gross income collected under Section 7.2 must be used exclusively for projects to maintain and improve the waterway (dredging, site acquisition for silt deposit, water safety, water quality, etc.), and unspent funds may be accumulated in a revolving fund.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: property owners of real property located within the corporate limits of the Fox Waterway Agency — potentially subject to a new general property tax levy by the Agency.
  • Secondary: the Fox Waterway Agency (expanded revenue flexibility) and users of the waterway (potentially improved services and projects funded by new revenue).
  • Municipal and county tax administration entities would be involved in tax collection as applicable.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Fiscal: Enables a property-tax revenue stream for the Agency to support operations, dredging, water quality and safety projects; could reduce reliance on user fees/debt or supplement them.
  • Tax incidence: Property owners within Agency boundaries could see an increase in property tax liabilities if the Board adopts a levy; the bill authorizes the Board to act by majority vote (no ballot referendum required in text).
  • Governance and oversight: Raises questions about checks on the Board’s taxing power, public engagement, and coordination with other local taxing bodies.
  • Existing statutory safeguards (public hearings for fee changes/borrowing and earmarking of 75% of gross income for waterway projects) remain in place.

Legislative timeline / procedural status

  • Introduced: Feb. 18, 2025 (filed with Clerk Feb. 7 / filing entries show March dates as well) by Rep. Joyce Mason.
  • Committee referrals: Rules Committee; Revenue & Finance Committee; Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water; Tax Policy subcommittee.
  • Actions: Read first time and multiple referrals (Feb–Mar 2025); as of 6/28/2025 the bill is “In committee upon adjournment.”

Notes: The bill text does not specify an effective date. The amendment alters an existing statutory restriction (previously codified) to permit property taxation by the Fox Waterway Agency.

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

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