SB2061 amends the Illinois Wildlife Code to create a new compensation program for property damage caused by wild deer. If wild deer cause more than $500 in damage on land in Illinois that is owned or leased by an Illinois resident, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would be required to pay the resident for the actual property damage, so long as the resident submits a claim in the form and manner the Department sets by rule. The claim must be filed within one year after the damage occurs and is known or reasonably should have been known.
The bill also directs DNR to adopt rules to administer the new compensation process. If a qualifying resident is not paid within 180 days after submitting a proper claim, the bill allows the resident to bring an action against the State in the Court of Claims. In effect, the measure creates a state-backed remedy for deer-related property losses and places the administrative and financial responsibility on DNR and the State of Illinois.
Impact
The bill would add a new Section 2.1a to the Wildlife Code and establish a statutory obligation for the Department of Natural Resources to compensate Illinois residents for qualifying deer damage. It would also create a new claims process, impose a one-year filing deadline, authorize DNR rulemaking, and provide a private cause of action in the Court of Claims if payment is delayed beyond 180 days. The measure could increase state expenditures and expose the State to claims litigation, while directly affecting landowners and lessees who suffer deer-related property damage.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to gauge legislative sentiment. Based on the bill text alone, the proposal appears responsive to agricultural and property-damage concerns and is framed as a compensation remedy rather than a regulatory restriction. The overall sentiment cannot be determined from the available record, but the bill’s purpose suggests support from residents affected by deer damage and potential concern from fiscal or administrative stakeholders.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely to be the fiscal impact on the State, the scope of the compensation obligation, and the administrative burden on DNR. Questions may arise over how deer damage is verified, what qualifies as compensable property damage, how claims are valued, and whether the Court of Claims remedy could encourage disputes or increase state liability. Stakeholders most likely to support the bill are Illinois landowners, farmers, and lessees affected by deer damage, while the Department of Natural Resources and budget-focused policymakers may be concerned about cost and implementation.