---
type: "Bill"
title: "UNMANNED AERIAL SYS TASK FORCE"
description: "Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Defines the term \"drone\". Makes the use of a drone an illegal method of taking fish and aquatic life. Provides that the use of a drone as a fishing device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines the term \"drone\". Prohibits the use of a drone in the taking of wildlife. Provides that the use of a drone as a hunting device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Penalizes the taking of wildlife by use of a drone as a Class A misdemeanor in addition to other statutory penalties."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "99th"
identifier: "SB 44"
citation: "Illinois SB 44 (99th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 94
vote_count: 5
first_action: "2015-01-15"
last_action: "2015-08-18"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/f224f5c0-f828-4d43-94c4-753dcf7a916d"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=44&GAID=13&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=83435&SessionID=88&GA=99"
source_hash: "2eae7d36c194a7776ce76b55977b0aa28c6cfa58e5f4d6e18926d77af664702d"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois SB 44 (99th) — UNMANNED AERIAL SYS TASK FORCE

Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Defines the term "drone". Makes the use of a drone an illegal method of taking fish and aquatic life. Provides that the use of a drone as a fishing device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines the term "drone". Prohibits the use of a drone in the taking of wildlife. Provides that the use of a drone as a hunting device constitutes a public nuisance, making the drone subject to confiscation. Penalizes the taking of wildlife by use of a drone as a Class A misdemeanor in addition to other statutory penalties.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09900SB0044&GA=99&SessionId=88&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=83435&DocNum=44&GAID=13&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09900SB0044eng&GA=99&SessionId=88&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=83435&DocNum=44&GAID=13&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09900SB0044enr&GA=99&SessionId=88&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=83435&DocNum=44&GAID=13&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Concurrence, Amendment 10 — **55–0** (pass) · upper
- Concurrence, Amendment 11 — **55–0** (pass) · upper
- Third Reading — **44–0** (pass) · upper
- Third Reading — **106–0** (pass) · lower
- Concurrence — **55–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Adam Brown — cosponsor (person)
- Carol Ammons — cosponsor (person)
- Carol Sente — cosponsor (person)
- Jack D. Franks — cosponsor (person)
- Julie A. Morrison — primary (person)
- Linda Chapa LaVia — cosponsor (person)
- Norine K. Hammond — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2015-01-15** Prefiled with Secretary by Sen. Julie A. Morrison `filing`
- **2015-01-15** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2015-01-15** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-01-28** Assigned to Agriculture `referral-committee`
- **2015-03-11** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Julie A. Morrison `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-03-11** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-03-17** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Agriculture
- **2015-03-19** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2015-03-19** Do Pass as Amended Agriculture; 007-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2015-03-19** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 24, 2015
- **2015-03-24** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2015-03-24** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 25, 2015
- **2015-04-14** Third Reading - Passed; 044-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2015-04-14** Arrived in House `introduction`
- **2015-04-14** Chief House Sponsor Rep. Brandon W. Phelps
- **2015-04-15** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2015-04-15** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-04-20** Assigned to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-04-23** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-04-23** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-04-24** House Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-04-24** House Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-04-24** House Committee Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-04-24** House Committee Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-04-27** House Committee Amendment No. 4 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-04-27** House Committee Amendment No. 4 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-04-28** House Committee Amendment No. 5 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-04-28** House Committee Amendment No. 5 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-04-29** Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Adam Brown
- **2015-04-30** House Committee Amendment No. 6 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-04-30** House Committee Amendment No. 6 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-04** House Committee Amendment No. 6 Rules Refers to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee
- **2015-05-05** House Committee Amendment No. 7 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-05-05** House Committee Amendment No. 7 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-06** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-05-06** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-08** Committee Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b) May 15, 2015
- **2015-05-08** House Committee Amendment No. 6 Committee Deadline Extended-Rule 9(b) May 15, 2015
- **2015-05-11** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Rules Refers to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Adopted in Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee; by Voice Vote `amendment-passage`
- **2015-05-13** Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee; 008-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 3 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 4 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 5 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 6 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2015-05-13** House Committee Amendment No. 7 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2015-05-13** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2015-05-13** House Floor Amendment No. 9 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-05-13** House Floor Amendment No. 9 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-14** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-05-14** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-18** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Rules Refers to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee
- **2015-05-18** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2015-05-18** Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2015-05-18** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps `amendment-introduction`
- **2015-05-18** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-19** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Recommends Be Adopted Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee; 008-000-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2015-05-20** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Rules Refers to Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee
- **2015-05-21** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Recommends Be Adopted Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee; 008-000-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2015-05-21** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2015-05-21** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2015-05-21** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2015-05-21** Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Norine K. Hammond
- **2015-05-22** Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2015
- **2015-05-25** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 106-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2015-05-25** Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jack D. Franks
- **2015-05-25** Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons
- **2015-05-25** Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Sente
- **2015-05-25** Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia
- **2015-05-25** Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 8, 10, 11
- **2015-05-25** Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 8, 10, 11 - May 26, 2015
- **2015-05-27** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Julie A. Morrison `filing`
- **2015-05-27** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-27** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Julie A. Morrison `filing`
- **2015-05-27** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-27** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Julie A. Morrison `filing`
- **2015-05-27** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-27** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Agriculture `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-27** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Agriculture `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-27** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Agriculture `referral-committee`
- **2015-05-28** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Agriculture; 005-000-000
- **2015-05-28** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Agriculture; 005-000-000
- **2015-05-28** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Agriculture; 005-000-000
- **2015-05-30** House Committee Amendment No. 8 Senate Concurs 055-000-000
- **2015-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 10 Senate Concurs 055-000-000
- **2015-05-30** House Floor Amendment No. 11 Senate Concurs 055-000-000
- **2015-05-30** Senate Concurs 055-000-000
- **2015-05-30** Passed Both Houses
- **2015-06-26** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2015-08-18** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2015-08-18** Effective Date August 18, 2015
- **2015-08-18** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0392 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/f224f5c0-f828-4d43-94c4-753dcf7a916d`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).