House Minority Leader Tony McCombie passed two measures this year in the legislature to address concerns with sharpshooting to manage Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). After passing unanimously in the Senate this week, the bills will now move on to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk for his final approval:
- House Bill 2339 would automatically phase out the sharpshooting program in an identified county that has not had a confirmed CWD case in three years.
- House Bill 2340 allows for landowner permits to those who own at least 20 acres compared to 40 acres within a positively identified CWD county by the Department of Natural Resources.
“Northern Illinois residents were loud and clear: they do not agree with the use of agency sharpshooting to test the deer population,” said McCombie. “I am pleased these measures, inspired by the significant input from my constituents, passed unanimously in both chambers and I urge the Governor to sign them into law.”
Since its first detection in a Boone County deer in 2002, state efforts to manage the disease have impacted local residents in Leader McCombie’s 89th Legislative District. As a result, McCombie encouraged public feedback through a survey and community outreach, which culminated in the legislative package she filed in January to produce state-based solutions.
As the two bills await the Governor’s signature, interested residents can follow their progress at ilga.gov.