IL SB2435

Expands eligibility for Urban and Community Forestry Assistance grants to allow Illinois not-for-profit corporations to apply independently, rather than only as co-applicants with local governments

Establishes four priority areas for grant funding: implementing Illinois Forest Action Plan objectives, supporting local forestry management plans, building tree canopy in underserved and disadvantaged areas, and improving urban forest canopy statewide

Removes the previous requirement that applicants provide at least 50% matching funds and eliminates the cap limiting single grants to 5% of annual program allocation; matching requirements will now be set in individual funding opportunity notices

Adds new definitions including "public trees," "public tree inventory," and "underserved or disadvantaged" (using USDA Forest Service criteria) to clarify program scope

Designates two additional State forests: Lowden-Miller State Forest in Ogle County and Spoon River State Forest in Knox County