Peoria Standard

Li Arellano, Jr. introduced SB1544 in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 4, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that any deer herd management plan established by the Department of Natural Resources, including length of seasons and bag and possession limits, shall take into account economic damage and public safety concerns caused by deer."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends the Illinois Wildlife Code to include specific provisions for deer herd management by the Department of Natural Resources. It mandates that any management plan, including the length of hunting seasons and bag and possession limits, should consider economic damage and public safety concerns caused by deer. The bill specifies legal methods of taking deer, restricted to certain firearms and bows, during defined open seasons. It allows the establishment of additional harvest periods for managing or eradicating diseases in deer populations or harvesting surplus deer. These additional periods are limited to hunting with guns or bows. The bill requires the department to report annually to the General Assembly on deer management programs, detailing the number of surplus deer taken, the incidence of communicable diseases, and the disposition of deer from each harvest season. The effective date for these amendments is not explicitly stated.

Li Arellano, Jr. has proposed one other bill since the beginning of the 104th session.

Arellano graduated from the University of Michigan.

Li Arellano Jr. is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 37th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Win Stoller in 2025.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB1544	02/04/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that any deer herd management plan established by the Department of Natural Resources, including length of seasons and bag and possession limits, shall take into account economic damage and public safety concerns caused by deer.
SB1573	02/04/2025	Amends the Illinois Notary Public Act. Provides that a fee of $25 for a commission as an electronic notary public shall be waived for a period of 2 years. Provides that a bond of $25,000 for a commission as an electronic notary shall be waived for a period of 2 years, except that a bond of $5,000 shall still be required. Effective immediately.
SB1277	01/28/2025	Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Prohibits a company that provides solar project installation services or solar facility installation services from installing a solar project or solar facility in Illinois without posting and maintaining, with the Illinois Power Agency, a surety bond in the amount of $2,000,000 or such higher amount as is annually set by the Agency by rule. Requires the Agency to adopt rules to establish requirements for the mandated surety bonds and procedures for posting and maintaining those bonds. Requires the rules adopted by the Agency to prescribe the type and amount of the surety bond required and the conditions under which the Agency is entitled to collect moneys from such bonds. Authorizes the rules adopted by the Agency to contain any other provisions the Agency deems necessary to administer the provisions of the amendatory Act. Directs the Agency to annually adjust the amount of the required surety bond beginning 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Creates the Solar Installation Fund. Provides that any moneys forfeited to the State from the required surety bonds shall be deposited into the Solar Installation Fund and shall, upon approval by the Governor and the Director of the Agency, be used by and under the direction of the Agency for the purpose of ensuring that certain rebate and warranty obligations of such a company are met. Authorizes the Agency to enter into contracts and agreements it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of the amendatory Act. Provides that neither the State, nor the Director of the Agency, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from any action taken under the provisions of the amendatory Act. Allows the Agency to approve or disapprove any surety bond. Allows a person whose surety bond is disapproved to contest the disapproval. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act.