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HB 4291

WILDLIFE CD-UAV TRACKING

104th Regular Session Introduced by Norine Hammond and 3 co-sponsors

Illinois bill authorizes DNR drone use for wildlife tracking, enabling advanced monitoring but raising privacy and environmental disruption concerns.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 4291

Legislative bill overview

HB 4291 authorizes the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to use camera-equipped unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for wildlife tracking and monitoring purposes. The bill establishes a framework allowing CD-UAV (camera drone-unmanned aerial vehicle) technology to be deployed across the state for data collection on wildlife populations, migration patterns, and habitat conditions.

Why is this important

Wildlife monitoring through drone technology can provide more cost-effective, real-time data on animal populations and behaviors compared to traditional ground-based surveys, potentially improving conservation decisions. However, this expands government surveillance capabilities in outdoor spaces, raising questions about privacy, environmental impact of the technology itself, and whether adequate oversight mechanisms exist.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy concerns: Drone operations over private property and public spaces may conflict with expectations of privacy, even when targeting wildlife rather than people
  • Environmental impact: Drones themselves can disturb wildlife, disrupt migration patterns, and create habitat disturbance—potentially undermining the conservation goals the surveillance aims to serve
  • Regulatory oversight: The bill's language (based on filing status alone) may lack clear standards for when/where drones can be deployed, data retention policies, or public notification requirements

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

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