On Monday, June 1, the 2026 Illinois legislative session officially adjourned, sine die. This means the session is officially over. Throughout the session, the Sportsmen’s Alliance monitored numerous pieces of legislation impacting hunting, fishing, and trapping in the Land of Lincoln.
Here are the bills that completed the legislative process and have been sent to the Governor for his consideration.
HB 5309 (Mute Swan Exclusion): This bill amends the Wildlife Code to specify that the mute swan (Cygnus olor) is not a migratory game bird protected by the Code, allowing for better management of this non-native species.
HB 5439 (Landowner and Tenant Permits): This legislation provides free deer, turkey, and combination permits to qualified Illinois resident landowners and tenants. It mandates free deer permits for resident tenants hunting exclusively on land within counties with confirmed Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The bill limits issuance to one either-sex and one antlerless-only permit for both firearm and archery seasons, and requires hunters to carry these permits at all times.
SB 2756: (Modernizing Deer Hunting Standards): Passing both the House and Senate with overwhelming majorities, this bill updates centerfire rifle restrictions. It transitions Illinois from a strict single-shot capacity restriction to an allowed three-round capacity combined between the magazine and chamber.
SB 3152: (Updating Trapping Regulations): This technical update also passed both chambers with overwhelming support. It replaces the outdated term “leghold” with the industry-standard “foothold” throughout the Wildlife Code. Additionally, it increases the maximum allowable jaw spread for foothold traps used in water for beaver and otter from 7.5 inches to 8.5 inches.
Review a complete list of monitored bills via the Interactive Legislative Map.
The Fight Never Stops: Stay Vigilant!
Even though the legislative session has wrapped up for the year, our work to safeguard Illinois’ rich outdoor traditions is far from over. Anti-hunting organizations never take a break. They are always seeking ways to bypass the legislature or use administrative rule changes that threaten our traditions and way of life.
We’ve seen it in states across the country: the moment we look away, they strike. We need you to stay vigilant, keep your boots on the ground, and be ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice.
Defending Illinois’ Sportsmen Heritage
Share this message with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen, and urge them to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in protecting and defending our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage in the Prairie State.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square, and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions.
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