Illinois 2026 Concealed Carry Expansion Bills: Forest Preserves, Reciprocity, and Restricted-Zone Rollbacks

What the Bills Would Do

The seven bills discussed below would expand where and how concealed carry license (CCL) holders can carry in Illinois. Section 65(a) of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) lists 23 categories of prohibited locations. Several bills target specific prohibited zones.

HB3507 / SB1802, Concealed Carry in Forest Preserves: Would remove the blanket prohibition on Cook County Forest Preserve District property under 430 ILCS 66/65 while allowing forest preserve districts to prohibit carry at specified facilities and permitted events. HB3507 has been assigned to the Gun Violence Prevention Committee as of March 12, 2026^[1]. SB1802's committee deadline was extended to May 22, 2026, when it was re-referred to Assignments^[2].

SB3095 / SB3127, Concealed Carry Reciprocity: Would allow qualifying nonresidents to carry using permits from states with substantially similar training requirements or contiguous states with reciprocal agreements. Both had their committee deadlines extended to May 22, 2026, when they were re-referred to Assignments^[3]. Illinois does not recognize other states' concealed carry permits for general carry, but eligible nonresidents may transport a concealed firearm within their vehicles under the Act.

SB3133 / SB3098 / SB3135, Parks, Rest Areas, Public Transit: SB3133 and SB3098 would exempt IDOT rest areas and their buildings from the government-building prohibition and remove the bans on public transportation and municipal or park-district parks. SB3135 would remove the public-transportation ban. All three bills' committee deadlines were extended to May 22, 2026^[4].

Current Status

The official action histories record no committee vote before the deadlines passed. HB3507 was re-referred to Rules Committee on March 27, and the six Senate bills were re-referred to Assignments on May 22. The fall veto session is scheduled for November 17 through 19 and December 1 through 3, 2026, but the Senate President may revise that schedule. Further consideration would require legislative action in the 104th General Assembly or reintroduction in the 105th General Assembly.

What to Watch

The Firearm Concealed Carry Act required concealed carry license applications to be available no later than 180 days after July 9, 2013. An applicant for a new concealed carry license must provide proof of at least 16 hours of approved firearms training, including range qualification, subject to the Act's training credits and exemptions. The Senate bills' March 27 committee deadline was extended to April 24, then to May 15 and May 22. All six were re-referred to Assignments on May 22, 2026.