SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen advanced new legislation in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to update the existing rules on additions to the state’s Exotic Weeds Act.

“As an environmental advocate, I always welcome working with our state’s environmental agencies to make current laws more efficient,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “To protect Illinois’ landscapes from invasive species, we need to continually modernize the list.”

Senate Bill 2747 would require the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to determine which plants are actually exotic weeds. IDNR would then consult with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Agriculture, and any group serving interests in agriculture, industry, conservation, ecology, or management regarding exotic weeds before adding or removing any plant from the exotic weed list. Currently there are more than 20 exotic weeds on the list.

“This new legislation allows IDNR to be more responsive to new invasive species threats that are developing. By adding or removing species in administrative rule, the department has added flexibility, while the General Assembly retains oversight through the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules process,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “Invasive species, along with habitat loss, are two of the main reasons species become threatened or endangered. IDNR hopes to work closely with stakeholders including industry, academia, and land management to address invasive species of plants as soon as they are detected in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 2747 passed through the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the House for further consideration.