Illinois legislation · 104th General Assembly
Illinois HR1046: IDNR-RETURN TAFT CAMPUS
Status: Introduced, October 13, 2026
Urges the Governor's Office of the State of Illinois to direct the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to begin transferring the land of the Lorado Taft Field Campus from Northern Illinois University (NIU) back to the State.
What the bill says
A bill transferring 66 acres of the Heckman estate to the Northern Illinois State Teachers College, now Northern Illinois University (NIU), establishing the Lorado Taft Field Campus; and.
From the introduced text, October 13, 2026:
a bill transferring 66 acres of the Heckman estate to the Northern Illinois State Teachers College, now Northern Illinois University (NIU), establishing the Lorado Taft Field Campus; and WHEREAS, For more than 70 years, the Lorado Taft Field Campus served as a center for outdoor education, supporting university-level instruction and teacher preparation in outdoor education and outdoor learning programs for elementary and middle-school students; and WHEREAS, Today, the Lorado Taft Field Campus is vacant due to rising operating costs, aging infrastructure, and a misalignment with NIU's mission and priorities; and HR1046- 2 -LRB104 23493 ECR 39973 r HR1046 - 2 - LRB104 23493 ECR 39973 r HR1046 - 2 - LRB104 23493 ECR 39973 r WHEREAS, NIU has continued to maintain and care for the Lorado Taft Field Campus grounds in the hopes of transferring the land to its next steward, and the university has reached out to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) about transferring the land back to the State; and WHEREAS, IDNR recommended that the State should acquire the property, but the Office of the Governor chose not to accept the proposal; and WHEREAS, The Lorado Taft Field Campus holds significant value for Illinois due to its rich history and role in educating the State's youth; and WHEREAS, The Lorado Taft Field Campus would contribute significantly …
Sponsors
- Tony M. McCombie (R, 89) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Tony M. McCombie
Common questions
- What is HR1046?
- HR1046 is a bill in the Illinois Legislature (104th General Assembly): IDNR-RETURN TAFT CAMPUS.
- What does HR1046 do?
- In its own words: A bill transferring 66 acres of the Heckman estate to the Northern Illinois State Teachers College, now Northern Illinois University (NIU), establishing the Lorado Taft Field Campus; and.
- What is the status of HR1046?
- Introduced as of October 13, 2026. Latest action: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Tony M. McCombie (October 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored HR1046?
- Tony M. McCombie (R, 89).
- Where is the official record for HR1046?
- On the Illinois Legislature website: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=1046&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HR&SessionID=114
Source: official Illinois record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.