Bill Text: IL SR0632 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the creation of a coordinating council under the Illinois Lieutenant Governor's office to bring together a relevant staff of agencies and non-governmental organizations to develop a strategy for implementation of the 30 by 30 concept.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-07 - Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommend Do Adopt Environment and Conservation; 009-000-000 [SR0632 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0632-Introduced.html

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SR0632 LRB103 31419 MST 59100 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Article 11 SECTION 1 of the Illinois State
Constitution states that it is the public policy of the State
and the duty of each person to provide and maintain a healthful
environment for the benefit of this and future generations;
and
WHEREAS, SECTION 2 states that each person has the right
to a healthful environment and that each person may enforce
this right against any party, governmental or private, through
appropriate legal proceedings subject to reasonable limitation
and regulation as the General Assembly may provide by the law;
and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly is charged by law with
providing for the implementation and enforcement of this
public policy; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois 30 by 30 Task Force discussed the
application of the 30 by 30 concept in Illinois and considered
how agriculture is a predominate land use in the state (75% of
the State's land area); and
WHEREAS, The Task Force determined that part of a
successful strategy would include permanent dedication through

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fee simple and easement acquisition, as well as voluntary
conservation practices; and
WHEREAS, Currently, 4.2% of the total land area in
Illinois is formally protected for conservation purposes
through public and private mechanisms; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 10 years, the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources has acquired approximately 20,000 acres
in fee simple acquisitions; and
WHEREAS, The Forestry Development Act provides a reduced
property tax rate to private forest owners that enter into
agreements to manage their timber through timber stand
improvement, to control exotic species, or for wildlife
habitat development; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission has two
programs that offer the highest level of legal protection for
natural lands in Illinois, the Dedicated Nature Preserve and
the Registered Land and Water Reserve; and
WHEREAS, The Conservation and Fall Covers for Spring
Savings are two programs that support conservation practices
on agricultural land; and

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WHEREAS, More than 1.5 million acres are currently under
contract for three programs in Illinois, which include the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, such as the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship
Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program;
and
WHEREAS, Measuring of conserved lands would help the State
to know the adequate amount of land conserved, their overall
percentages, the breakdown of geographical area, and the
discussion of access to conserved lands; and
WHEREAS, The amount of work needed for a successful
outcome would best be accomplished by collaboration with all
coordinating State agencies; and
WHEREAS, In addition, conservation capacity can be built
by increasing conservation agency staffing; and
WHEREAS, Aligning programs with local priorities and
values provides feedback and actively engages local
communities in preparation for new programs and open spaces,
and the participation of students on this project is important
for the coordination between public and conservation efforts;
therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the creation of
a coordinating council under the Illinois Lieutenant
Governor's office to bring together a relevant staff of
agencies and non-governmental organizations to develop a
strategy for implementation of the 30 by 30 concept; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the students of Pontiac Township High School.