Illinois 104th General Assembly Status: Introduced Bipartisan · 4 D · 2 R cosponsors

HB5165      — RIVER ACCESS MODERNIZATION ACT

Last action — Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

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  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill affirms public rights for recreational use of navigable waters while protecting private property.

The River Access Modernization Act establishes the public's right to use navigable waters for recreation like boating and fishing, while protecting private land rights. It sets rules about access points and ensures landowner liability protections.

What this means for you
  • Families: Families can enjoy canoeing, boating, and fishing in designated waterways without concern for crossing private lands.
  • Environment: Environmental protections are in place to prevent littering and preserve natural habitats along these waterways.

Summary

Creates the River Access Modernization Act. Affirms the public's right to use navigable and recreationally suitable waters for canoeing, boating, kayaking, and angling, subject to protection of private property rights and environmental values. Provides that the public right of use does not include crossing private uplands or exiting onto private land without permission. Establishes landowner liability protections. Prohibits littering and alteration of flora and fauna. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Natural Resources to designate public access points, resolve conflicts, promote safety and conservation education, and maintain a listing of navigable waterways. Defines "navigable water" and "public recreational use".

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB5165 on the official Illinois source →

Action History

  1. Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

  2. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman

  3. Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 22, 2026

  4. Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026

  5. Assigned to Appropriations

  6. Referred to Assignments

  7. First Reading

  8. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin

  9. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

  10. Arrive in Senate

  11. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Elik

  12. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung

  13. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Benton

  14. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt

  15. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Tabled

  16. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 108-001-000

  17. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

  18. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted

  19. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Withdrawn by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

  20. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 008-000-000

  21. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

  22. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee

  23. House Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

  24. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 008-000-000

  25. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

  26. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

  27. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

  28. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  29. Second Reading - Short Debate

  30. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

  31. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  32. Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 006-003-000

  33. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Agriculture & Conservation Committee; by Voice Vote

  34. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

  35. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

  36. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

  37. Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

  38. Referred to Rules Committee

  39. First Reading

  40. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 175 not signed on · 4 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (175)

175 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 175 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Third Reading

Passed 108 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 72003
Republican 32106
Unaffiliated 3000
Total 107109
% of votes cast 91%1%0%8%
How each member voted (117)
Member Party Vote
Jacobs — Yea
Johnson — Yea
Hernandez, Lisa — Yea
Aarón M. Ortíz Democrat Yea
Abdelnasser Rashid Democrat Yea
Amy Briel Democrat Yea
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar Democrat Yea
Ann M. Williams Democrat Yea
Anna Moeller Democrat Yea
Anne Stava Democrat Yea
Anthony DeLuca Democrat Yea
Barbara Hernandez Democrat Yea
Bob Morgan Democrat Yea
Camille Y. Lilly Democrat Yea
Carol Ammons Democrat Yea
Curtis J. Tarver, II Democrat Yea
Dagmara Avelar Democrat Yea
Daniel Didech Democrat Yea
Dave Vella Democrat Yea
Debbie Meyers-Martin Democrat Yea
Diane Blair-Sherlock Democrat Yea
Edgar González, Jr. Democrat Yea
Eva-Dina Delgado Democrat Yea
Fred Crespo Democrat Yea
Harry Benton Democrat Yea
Hoan Huynh Democrat Not Voting
Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. Democrat Yea
Janet Yang Rohr Democrat Yea
Jawaharial Williams Democrat Yea
Jay Hoffman Democrat Yea
Jehan Gordon-Booth Democrat Yea
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz Democrat Yea
Joyce Mason Democrat Yea
Justin Cochran Democrat Yea
Justin Slaughter Democrat Yea
Kam Buckner Democrat Yea
Katie Stuart Democrat Yea
Kelly M. Cassidy Democrat Yea
Kevin John Olickal Democrat Yea
Kimberly Du Buclet Democrat Yea
La Shawn K. Ford Democrat Not Voting
Laura Faver Dias Democrat Yea
Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. Democrat Yea
Lilian Jiménez Democrat Yea
Lindsey LaPointe Democrat Yea
Lisa Davis Democrat Yea
Marcus C. Evans, Jr. Democrat Yea
Margaret A. DeLaRosa Democrat Yea
Margaret Croke Democrat Yea
Martha Deuter Democrat Yea
Mary Beth Canty Democrat Yea
Mary Gill Democrat Yea
Matt Hanson Democrat Yea
Maura Hirschauer Democrat Yea
Maurice A. West, II Democrat Yea
Michael Crawford Democrat Yea
Michael J. Kelly Democrat Yea
Michelle Mussman Democrat Yea
Nabeela Syed Democrat Yea
Natalie A. Manley Democrat Yea
Nicholas K. Smith Democrat Yea
Nicolle Grasse Democrat Yea
Norma Hernandez Democrat Yea
Rick Ryan Democrat Not Voting
Rita Mayfield Democrat Yea
Robert "Bob" Rita Democrat Yea
Robyn Gabel Democrat Yea
Sharon Chung Democrat Yea
Sonya M. Harper Democrat Yea
Stephanie A. Kifowit Democrat Yea
Sue Scherer Democrat Yea
Suzanne M. Ness Democrat Yea
Thaddeus Jones Democrat Yea
Theresa Mah Democrat Yea
Tracy Katz Muhl Democrat Yea
Will Guzzardi Democrat Yea
William "Will" Davis Democrat Yea
Yolonda Morris Democrat Yea
Adam M. Niemerg Republican Yea
Amy Elik Republican Yea
Amy L. Grant Republican Not Voting
Blaine Wilhour Republican Yea
Brad Halbrook Republican Yea
Brad Stephens Republican Not Voting
Bradley Fritts Republican Nay
Brandun Schweizer Republican Yea
Charles Meier Republican Yea
Chris Miller Republican Yea
Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer Republican Yea
Dan Swanson Republican Yea
Daniel J. Ugaste Republican Yea
Dave Severin Republican Yea
David Friess Republican Yea
Dennis Tipsword Republican Not Voting
Jackie Haas Republican Not Voting
Jason R. Bunting Republican Yea
Jed Davis Republican Yea
Jeff Keicher Republican Yea
Jennifer Sanalitro Republican Yea
Joe C. Sosnowski Republican Yea
John M. Cabello Republican Yea
Kevin Schmidt Republican Yea
Kyle Moore Republican Yea
Martin McLaughlin Republican Yea
Michael J. Coffey, Jr. Republican Yea
Nicole La Ha Republican Yea
Norine K. Hammond Republican Yea
Patrick Sheehan Republican Yea
Patrick Windhorst Republican Yea
Regan Deering Republican Yea
Ryan Spain Republican Not Voting
Steven Reick Republican Yea
Tom Weber Republican Yea
Tony M. McCombie Republican Yea
Travis Weaver Republican Yea
Wayne A. Rosenthal Republican Not Voting
William E Hauter Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety environment labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB5165      do?
Creates the River Access Modernization Act. Affirms the public's right to use navigable and recreationally suitable waters for canoeing, boating, kayaking, and angling, subject to protection of private property rights and environmental values. Provides that the public right of use does not include crossing private uplands or exiting onto private land without permission. Establishes landowner liability protections. Prohibits littering and alteration of flora and fauna. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Natural Resources to designate public access points, resolve conflicts, promote safety and conservation education, and maintain a listing of navigable waterways. Defines "navigable water" and "public recreational use".
Who sponsors HB5165     ?
HB5165      is sponsored by Michael W. Halpin, Laura Ellman, Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. (Democrat), Janet Yang Rohr (Democrat), Harry Benton (Democrat), Sharon Chung (Democrat), Amy Elik (Republican), and Kevin Schmidt (Republican).
What is the current status of HB5165     ?
This bill has been introduced in the House. Introduced February 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB5165     ?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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