Laura Dias, Illinois State Representative for 62nd District | Official Website
Laura Dias, Illinois State Representative for 62nd District | Official Website
In the House, 75 Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while 39 Republicans opposed it.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, 38 Democrats and five Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while 14 Republicans voted against it.
Dias introduced the bill in the Illinois House on Jan. 14, 2025 during the 104th session.
The legislation, known as HB1367, was passed on May 21, 2025 during the general assembly session 104.
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Township Open Space Article of the Township Code. Reduces the acreage that constitutes open land or open space under the Article to 25 acres (currently, 50 acres). Provides, in the definition of "open space purposes", that development includes development for agricultural purposes. Provides that, after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a township board may lease open space that is a part of the township's open space program for a period not longer than 25 years from the date of the lease to an individual, a nonprofit organization, the federal government, a state government, or a local government for specified purposes consistent with open space purposes. Provides that, upon expiration of a lease of land that was leased after the effective date of the amendatory Act, title to all structures on the leased land shall be vested in the township. Provides that leased open space may be used for agricultural purposes. Provides that a township board may lease open space for open space purposes and buildings and facilities on the open space to an individual, a nonprofit organization, the federal government, a state government, or a local government. Provides that the township board may not sell, convey, donate, or otherwise dispose of open space without referendum approval by the majority of the voters of the township at a regular election, and provides that the board may certify the question of disposition of property to the appropriate election authority only if the board approves the question by at least a two-thirds majority of the board members. Provides that, if a township dissolves or is consolidated or merged or the boundaries of the township are altered, any affected open space shall continue to be used for open space purposes unless the open space is disposed of is approved by a two-thirds vote of the board of the unit of local government in control of that open space and after referendum of the voters of the unit of local government."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill amends Illinois township code provisions related to open space acquisition and management. It defines key terms such as "board," "development of real property," "open space," "open space plan," and "open space purposes," emphasizing conservation and recreation. The bill allows township boards to acquire open land through various means, excluding condemnation in certain cases like farmland or religious properties, in counties with populations between 150,000 and 250,000. It restricts additional land acquisition once 30% of township land is held for open space. Leasing is permitted, with lease terms reduced from 50 to 25 years for open space. Open spaces sold or transferred must be approved by township referendums, with exemptions for Department of Transportation purposes after public hearings and board approval. The open space remains designated as such even if township boundaries or governance change, unless proper procedures change its use.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz (Democrat-1st District), Sen. Adriane Johnson (Democrat-30th District), and Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (Democrat-81st District), along with four other sponsors.
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.
Dias graduated from Indiana University with a BS.
Dias, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2023 to represent the state's 62nd House District, replacing previous state representative Sam Yingling.
| Legislator | Party | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adriane Johnson | Democrat | 30th District | Yea |
| Andrew S. Chesney | Republican | 45th District | Nay |
| Bill Cunningham | Democrat | 18th District | Yea |
| Celina Villanueva | Democrat | 12th District | Yea |
| Chapin Rose | Republican | 51st District | Nay |
| Chris Balkema | Republican | 53rd District | Nay |
| Christopher Belt | Democrat | 57th District | Yea |
| Craig Wilcox | Republican | 32nd District | Nay |
| Cristina Castro | Democrat | 22nd District | Yea |
| Dale Fowler | Republican | 59th District | Nay |
| Darby A. Hills | Republican | 26th District | Yea |
| Dave Syverson | Republican | 35th District | Nay |
| David Koehler | Democrat | 46th District | Yea |
| Donald P. DeWitte | Republican | 33rd District | Yea |
| Doris Turner | Democrat | 48th District | Yea |
| Elgie R. Sims, Jr. | Democrat | 17th District | Yea |
| Emil Jones, III | Democrat | 14th District | Yea |
| Erica Harriss | Republican | 56th District | Nay |
| Graciela Guzmán | Democrat | 20th District | Yea |
| Jason Plummer | Republican | 55th District | Nay |
| Javier L. Cervantes | Democrat | 1st District | Yea |
| Jil Tracy | Republican | 50th District | Yea |
| John F. Curran | Republican | 41st District | Yea |
| Julie A. Morrison | Democrat | 29th District | Yea |
| Karina Villa | Democrat | 25th District | Yea |
| Kimberly A. Lightford | Democrat | 4th District | Yea |
| Lakesia Collins | Democrat | 5th District | Yea |
| Laura Ellman | Democrat | 21st District | Yea |
| Laura Fine | Democrat | 9th District | Yea |
| Laura M. Murphy | Democrat | 28th District | Yea |
| Li Arellano, Jr. | Republican | 37th District | Nay |
| Linda Holmes | Democrat | 42nd District | Yea |
| Mark L. Walker | Democrat | 27th District | Yea |
| Mary Edly-Allen | Democrat | 31st District | Yea |
| Mattie Hunter | Democrat | 3rd District | Yea |
| Meg Loughran Cappel | Democrat | 49th District | Not vote |
| Michael E. Hastings | Democrat | 19th District | Yea |
| Michael W. Halpin | Democrat | 36th District | Yea |
| Mike Porfirio | Democrat | 11th District | Yea |
| Mike Simmons | Democrat | 7th District | Yea |
| Mr. President | Democrat | 39th District | Yea |
| Napoleon Harris, III | Democrat | 15th District | Present |
| Neil Anderson | Republican | 47th District | Nay |
| Omar Aquino | Democrat | 2nd District | Yea |
| Patrick J. Joyce | Democrat | 40th District | Yea |
| Paul Faraci | Democrat | 52nd District | Yea |
| Rachel Ventura | Democrat | 43rd District | Yea |
| Ram Villivalam | Democrat | 8th District | Yea |
| Robert F. Martwick | Democrat | 10th District | Yea |
| Robert Peters | Democrat | 13th District | Yea |
| Sally J. Turner | Republican | 44th District | Nay |
| Sara Feigenholtz | Democrat | 6th District | Yea |
| Seth Lewis | Republican | 24th District | Yea |
| Steve McClure | Republican | 54th District | Nay |
| Steve Stadelman | Democrat | 34th District | Yea |
| Sue Rezin | Republican | 38th District | Nay |
| Suzy Glowiak Hilton | Democrat | 23rd District | Yea |
| Terri Bryant | Republican | 58th District | Nay |
| Willie Preston | Democrat | 16th District | Yea |
| Legislator | Party | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aarón M. Ortíz | Democrat | 1st District | Yea |
| Abdelnasser Rashid | Democrat | 21st District | Yea |
| Adam M. Niemerg | Republican | 102nd District | Nay |
| Amy Briel | Democrat | 76th District | Yea |
| Amy Elik | Republican | 111th District | Nay |
| Amy L. Grant | Republican | 47th District | Nay |
| Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar | Democrat | 22nd District | Yea |
| Ann M. Williams | Democrat | 11th District | Yea |
| Anna Moeller | Democrat | 43rd District | Yea |
| Anne Stava | Democrat | 81st District | Yea |
| Anthony DeLuca | Democrat | 80th District | Yea |
| Barbara Hernandez | Democrat | 50th District | Yea |
| Blaine Wilhour | Republican | 110th District | Nay |
| Bob Morgan | Democrat | 58th District | Yea |
| Brad Halbrook | Republican | 107th District | Nay |
| Brad Stephens | Republican | 20th District | Nay |
| Bradley Fritts | Republican | 74th District | Nay |
| Brandun Schweizer | Republican | 104th District | Nay |
| Camille Y. Lilly | Democrat | 78th District | Yea |
| Carol Ammons | Democrat | 103rd District | Absent, excused |
| Charles Meier | Republican | 109th District | Nay |
| Chris Miller | Republican | 101st District | Nay |
| Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer | Republican | 100th District | Nay |
| Curtis J. Tarver, II | Democrat | 25th District | Yea |
| Dagmara Avelar | Democrat | 85th District | Yea |
| Dan Swanson | Republican | 71st District | Nay |
| Dan Ugaste | Republican | 65th District | Not vote |
| Daniel Didech | Democrat | 59th District | Yea |
| Dave Severin | Republican | 116th District | Nay |
| Dave Vella | Democrat | 68th District | Yea |
| David Friess | Republican | 115th District | Nay |
| Debbie Meyers-Martin | Democrat | 38th District | Yea |
| Dennis Tipsword | Republican | 105th District | Nay |
| Diane Blair-Sherlock | Democrat | 46th District | Yea |
| Edgar González, Jr. | Democrat | 23rd District | Yea |
| Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez | Democrat | 2nd District | Yea |
| Eva-Dina Delgado | Democrat | 3rd District | Yea |
| Fred Crespo | Democrat | 44th District | Yea |
| Gregg Johnson | Democrat | 72nd District | Yea |
| Harry Benton | Democrat | 97th District | Yea |
| Hoan Huynh | Democrat | 13th District | Yea |
| Jackie Haas | Republican | 79th District | Nay |
| Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. | Democrat | 40th District | Yea |
| Janet Yang Rohr | Democrat | 41st District | Yea |
| Jason R. Bunting | Republican | 106th District | Nay |
| Jawaharial Williams | Democrat | 10th District | Yea |
| Jay Hoffman | Democrat | 113th District | Yea |
| Jed Davis | Republican | 75th District | Nay |
| Jeff Keicher | Republican | 70th District | Nay |
| Jehan Gordon-Booth | Democrat | 92nd District | Yea |
| Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz | Democrat | 17th District | Yea |
| Jennifer Sanalitro | Republican | 48th District | Nay |
| Joe C. Sosnowski | Republican | 69th District | Nay |
| John M. Cabello | Republican | 90th District | Nay |
| Joyce Mason | Democrat | 61st District | Yea |
| Justin Slaughter | Democrat | 27th District | Yea |
| Kam Buckner | Democrat | 26th District | Yea |
| Katie Stuart | Democrat | 112th District | Yea |
| Kelly M. Cassidy | Democrat | 14th District | Yea |
| Kevin John Olickal | Democrat | 16th District | Yea |
| Kevin Schmidt | Republican | 114th District | Nay |
| Kimberly Du Buclet | Democrat | 5th District | Yea |
| Kyle Moore | Republican | 99th District | Nay |
| La Shawn K. Ford | Democrat | 8th District | Yea |
| Laura Faver Dias | Democrat | 62nd District | Yea |
| Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. | Democrat | 86th District | Yea |
| Lilian Jiménez | Democrat | 4th District | Yea |
| Lindsey LaPointe | Democrat | 19th District | Yea |
| Lisa Davis | Democrat | 32nd District | Yea |
| Marcus C. Evans, Jr. | Democrat | 33rd District | Yea |
| Margaret Croke | Democrat | 12th District | Yea |
| Martha Deuter | Democrat | 45th District | Yea |
| Martin J. Moylan | Democrat | 55th District | Yea |
| Martin McLaughlin | Republican | 52nd District | Nay |
| Mary Beth Canty | Democrat | 54th District | Yea |
| Mary Gill | Democrat | 35th District | Yea |
| Matt Hanson | Democrat | 83rd District | Yea |
| Maura Hirschauer | Democrat | 49th District | Yea |
| Maurice A. West, II | Democrat | 67th District | Yea |
| Michael Crawford | Democrat | 31st District | Yea |
| Michael J. Coffey, Jr. | Republican | 95th District | Nay |
| Michael J. Kelly | Democrat | 15th District | Yea |
| Michelle Mussman | Democrat | 56th District | Yea |
| Mr. Speaker | Democrat | 7th District | Yea |
| Nabeela Syed | Democrat | 51st District | Yea |
| Natalie A. Manley | Democrat | 98th District | Yea |
| Nicholas K. Smith | Democrat | 34th District | Yea |
| Nicole La Ha | Republican | 82nd District | Nay |
| Nicolle Grasse | Democrat | 53rd District | Yea |
| Norine K. Hammond | Republican | 94th District | Nay |
| Norma Hernandez | Democrat | 77th District | Yea |
| Patrick Sheehan | Republican | 37th District | Nay |
| Patrick Windhorst | Republican | 117th District | Nay |
| Paul Jacobs | Republican | 118th District | Nay |
| Regan Deering | Republican | 88th District | Nay |
| Rick Ryan | Democrat | 36th District | Yea |
| Rita Mayfield | Democrat | 60th District | Yea |
| Robert "Bob" Rita | Democrat | 28th District | Yea |
| Robyn Gabel | Democrat | 18th District | Yea |
| Ryan Spain | Republican | 73rd District | Nay |
| Sharon Chung | Democrat | 91st District | Yea |
| Sonya M. Harper | Democrat | 6th District | Yea |
| Stephanie A. Kifowit | Democrat | 84th District | Absent, excused |
| Steven Reick | Republican | 63rd District | Nay |
| Sue Scherer | Democrat | 96th District | Absent, excused |
| Suzanne M. Ness | Democrat | 66th District | Yea |
| Terra Costa Howard | Democrat | 42nd District | Yea |
| Thaddeus Jones | Democrat | 29th District | Yea |
| Theresa Mah | Democrat | 24th District | Yea |
| Tom Weber | Republican | 64th District | Nay |
| Tony M. McCombie | Republican | 89th District | Nay |
| Tracy Katz Muhl | Democrat | 57th District | Yea |
| Travis Weaver | Republican | 93rd District | Nay |
| Wayne A. Rosenthal | Republican | 108th District | Nay |
| Will Guzzardi | Democrat | 39th District | Yea |
| William "Will" Davis | Democrat | 30th District | Yea |
| William E Hauter | Republican | 87th District | Nay |
| Yolonda Morris | Democrat | 9th District | Yea |
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