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HB 3685

Relating to local option tax measures.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Werner Reschke

Creates a temporary Task Force on Lake Michigan Beach Public Use to study coordination, access, and safety, with recommendations due Dec 31, 2026 (dissolves 1/1/2027).

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3685

HB 3685 — Task Force on Lake Michigan Beach Public Use (Summary)

Status: Introduced (104th General Assembly). In committee upon adjournment (as of 2025-06-28). Introduced/First reading: Feb 18, 2025; Filed: Mar 4, 2025. Sponsor: Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl.

Main purpose

Add Section 21.2 to the Swimming Facility Act to create a temporary Task Force to review current and potential future coordination, consolidation, use, and public access issues for public bathing beaches along Lake Michigan and to develop policy recommendations for more efficient governmental regulation and management of those beaches.

Key provisions

  • Creates the Task Force on Lake Michigan Beach Public Use under the Swimming Facility Act (210 ILCS 125).
  • Membership:
    • 4 legislative appointees (one each appointed by Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, House Minority Leader, Senate Minority Leader).
    • One representative of the City of Chicago (Mayor or designee).
    • One representative appointed by the governing body of each local municipality that currently maintains at least one public bathing beach (per the Swimming Facility Act) — potentially multiple municipal representatives.
    • 2 environmental protection/conservation representatives (appointed by the Governor).
    • 2 experts on swimming-related injuries/deaths concerning large bodies of water (appointed by the Governor).
    • 2 parks and recreation experts (appointed by the Governor).
    • Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) or designee.
  • IDNR must provide administrative support.
  • The Task Force elects its own chair and sets meeting/hearing schedules and agendas.
  • Appointments required within 90 days after the Act’s effective date. Members must be adult Illinois residents and serve without compensation.
  • Duties include:
    • Reviewing existing beach management structures, admission policies, accessibility, and at least 10 years of safety and workplace safety data.
    • Examining potential future government/management structures that would provide uniform access, safety, accessibility, and training while preserving local programming options.
    • Analyzing costs and other impacts of differing municipal beach management approaches.
    • Recommending at least two feasible, cost-effective intergovernmental or governmental structures for public beach accessibility, safety, and training.
  • Deliverables and timeline:
    • Report of findings and recommendations due to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2026.
    • Task Force dissolved January 1, 2027.
  • Effective date: upon becoming law (act states “effective immediately”).

Who would be affected

  • Municipal governments along Illinois’ Lake Michigan shoreline (including the City of Chicago).
  • IDNR (administrative support role).
  • Local park and recreation departments, lifeguard/safety personnel, environmental and conservation organizations.
  • Members of the public who use Lake Michigan public bathing beaches — potential future changes to access, safety standards, management structures, and funding.

Potential impact

  • Short term: establishes a state-supported study and coordination body; minimal direct fiscal impact as members are unpaid and IDNR provides administrative support.
  • Medium/long term: could lead to legislative or administrative reforms recommending consolidation or new intergovernmental arrangements, uniform safety/accessibility standards, changes in local responsibilities, and associated fiscal impacts depending on adopted recommendations. The bill itself does not enact regulatory change — it creates a Task Force to develop recommendations.

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

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