republic-os/legislation/us/states/il/95th/hb-297.md

---
type: "Bill"
title: "DNR-HOUND RUNNING AREA PERMIT"
description: "Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines \"hound running\". Provides that the Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the operation of a hound running areas permit program. Provides that a coyote may be held or possessed by a person who holds a hound running area permit. Provides that hound running areas approved by the Department are exempt from certain limitations in the Game Protective Article of the Wildlife Code. Limits hound running areas to a fenced area that has at least 40 acres, that is used by dogs and people to chase foxes or coyotes without the intent to kill or capture the foxes or coyotes, and that has a dog-proof escape area for the chased animals. Requires the applicant for a hound running area permit to hold or apply for a fur-bearing mammal breeder permit. Authorizes the Department to promulgate rules, make inspections, and administer this program. Provides that a person that violates the requirements for a hound running area permit is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Amends the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act to provide that a hound running area may be used to keep and maintain coyotes in an escape-proof enclosure. Makes other changes."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "95th"
identifier: "HB 297"
citation: "Illinois HB 297 (95th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 27
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2007-01-16"
last_action: "2007-08-16"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/105909ba-e61d-417b-adf2-ea92154b7781"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=297&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=27047&SessionID=51&GA=95"
source_hash: "bf90087f7482c09aafa4edd0f9ff5cde4b1945c150f269f6a62ce0f8927b9b84"
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 HB 297 (95th) — DNR-HOUND RUNNING AREA PERMIT

Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines "hound running". Provides that the Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the operation of a hound running areas permit program. Provides that a coyote may be held or possessed by a person who holds a hound running area permit. Provides that hound running areas approved by the Department are exempt from certain limitations in the Game Protective Article of the Wildlife Code. Limits hound running areas to a fenced area that has at least 40 acres, that is used by dogs and people to chase foxes or coyotes without the intent to kill or capture the foxes or coyotes, and that has a dog-proof escape area for the chased animals. Requires the applicant for a hound running area permit to hold or apply for a fur-bearing mammal breeder permit. Authorizes the Department to promulgate rules, make inspections, and administer this program. Provides that a person that violates the requirements for a hound running area permit is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Amends the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act to provide that a hound running area may be used to keep and maintain coyotes in an escape-proof enclosure. Makes other changes.

## 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=09500HB0297&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=27047&DocNum=297&GAID=9&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500HB0297eng&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=27047&DocNum=297&GAID=9&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09500HB0297enr&GA=95&SessionId=51&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=27047&DocNum=297&GAID=9&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **115–0** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **55–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- David Reis — primary (person)

## Timeline

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

- **2007-01-16** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. David Reis `filing`
- **2007-01-19** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2007-01-19** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2007-01-31** Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee `referral-committee`
- **2007-03-06** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Agriculture & Conservation Committee `amendment-introduction`
- **2007-03-06** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Agriculture & Conservation Committee; by Voice Vote `amendment-passage`
- **2007-03-06** Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 010-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2007-03-07** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2007-03-13** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2007-03-13** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2007-03-27** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 115-000-001 `reading-3, passage`
- **2007-03-28** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2007-03-28** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading March 29, 2007 `reading-1`
- **2007-03-28** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. John O. Jones
- **2007-03-29** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2007-03-29** Referred to Rules `referral-committee`
- **2007-05-03** Assigned to Agriculture and Conservation `referral-committee`
- **2007-05-10** Do Pass Agriculture and Conservation; 008-001-000 `committee-passage`
- **2007-05-10** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 15, 2007
- **2007-05-15** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2007-05-15** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 16, 2007
- **2007-05-22** Third Reading - Passed; 055-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2007-05-22** Passed Both Houses
- **2007-06-20** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2007-08-16** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2007-08-16** Effective Date January 1, 2008
- **2007-08-16** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 95-0196 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/105909ba-e61d-417b-adf2-ea92154b7781`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).