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HB4622

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TREE REMOVAL-IDOT PROP

What this bill does

Amends the Wrongful Tree Cutting Act. Provides that if a tree along a fence line abutting a roadway is on a property that was formerly used as farm land and is now owned or managed by the Department of Transportation and encroaches onto, over, or beneath a neighboring parcel that is currently used for farming, the parcel owner may petition the Department of Transportation to remove the tree if the tree's growth is affecting crop growth or otherwise hindering the parcel owner's economic use of the land to the extent that the problem can only be effectively remediated by removing the tree. Permits the neighboring parcel owner to remove the tree at the parcel owner's own expense without any obligation to compensate the Department of Transportation for the tree's removal if the Department of Transportation does not either remove the tree, grant the neighboring parcel owner permission to remove the tree, or explain in writing why the tree cannot in good faith be removed within 60 days. Provides that if the Department of Transportation cannot in good faith remove the tree within 60 days, the maximum delay allowed is an additional 60 days for it to remove the tree. Provides that if a neighboring parcel owner has been given authority to remove a tree, the parcel owner is immune from a claim of damages to the property, except in the cases of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

Sponsor: Charles Meier Chamber: House Introduced: 2026-01-27
Stuck
P(Advance)
10.8%
Chance it ever reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
0.0%
Chance it becomes law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Confidence: 89% FORECAST

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 65 days ago · SLOW

How does a bill become law in Illinois?
  1. Introduction of Bill

    A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.

  2. Committee Work — Hearings

    The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.

  3. Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report

    The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.

  4. Floor Debate

    The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.

  5. Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber

    If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.

  6. Gubernatorial Action

    The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory. Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.

Sponsor Context

Hearings

This bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing.

Action History

3 actions recorded. Last action: 2026-02-03 — Referred toRules Committee. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2026-01-27 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Charles Meier House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2026-02-03 Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2026-02-03 Committee Assignment
Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2026-01-27 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Charles Meier House Rule 6(b) Introduction & Filing —
2026-02-03 House First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing —
2026-02-03 House Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment —