Amends the Regional Planning Act. Creates the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee within the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Describes membership of the Committee. Provides that, no later than May 31, 2027, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee shall develop and submit a report of legislative recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly regarding the sufficiency, management, and governance of water in Northeastern Illinois. Provides that the report shall include (1) the projected water use needs in the region through 2075, including any projected growth in water demand owing to residential, industrial, agricultural, or commercial development; (2) the adequacy of currently available water sources and infrastructure to meet projected water use needs in the region; (3) the risks to water security in the region, including any risks from climate change, groundwater depletion, biological or technological interference, increased drawdown from water intensive manufacturing, infrastructure failure within community water supplies, infrastructure failure across water supplies, and other risks as deemed appropriate; (4) existing data that the State collects related to water withdrawal, transmission, and use, including where the data is kept and how it is used and shared by agencies; (5) potential future government or management structures that would better ensure affordable water access for the region's water users, including possible structures to regionalize water service in the region; (6) recommendations on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of at least 2 intergovernmental or governmental structures to improve water quality, long-term security, and affordability in the region; and (7) recommendations on how State agencies and departments can improve data collection, planning, and regulation of water in the region. Provides that appointments to the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee shall be made within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Dissolves the Northeastern Illinois Water Governance Advisory Committee on July 1, 2027.
Bill statuspassed3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 15, 2026Last action Apr 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced→Engrossed·5 edits·Apr 14, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was significantly rewritten to simplify the required report and restructure the advisory committee. The new version removes specific deadlines and mandates for the report, replacing them with a flexible timeline dependent on funding availability. It also shifts the committee's composition from a mix of appointed experts and community representatives to a body primarily led by state agency directors and county officials.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from a mandatory, detailed legislative report with strict deadlines to a more flexible assessment of water security. The applicability of the advisory committee changed from a broad group of appointed experts to a specific set of government and county representatives.
TIMELINE
The strict May 31, 2027 deadline for submitting the report was removed and replaced with a requirement to submit the report within 24 months of receiving appropriated funds.
REQUIREMENT
The detailed, mandatory list of seven specific topics for the report was replaced with a broader, more flexible list of eight topics, removing specific requirements to analyze groundwater sufficiency or infrastructure failure scenarios.
The requirement to dissolve the advisory committee on July 1, 2027, was removed from the text.
ELIGIBILITY
The committee membership was changed from a mix of appointed experts and community representatives to a body consisting of state agency directors and representatives appointed by Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, and Kane County boards.
FISCAL
A new provision was added requiring state agencies to provide data and information to the planning agency upon request to facilitate the report.
Floor votes · House Apr 14, 2026
How they voted
73–34
Passed · 9 other
Total votes 116
Apr 14, 2026
D
Democratic76
71 Yea5
93% Yea
R
Republican40
2 Yea34 Nay4
85% Nay
Your representatives
Vote distribution
All YeaAll NayMixedNo data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
21
Key actions
5
Committee
7
Amendments
2
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Reading-1
First Reading
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Other
Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Reading-1
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 075-034-000
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Reading-3
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
lower
Apr 10, 2026
Reading-2
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
lower
Apr 10, 2026
Reading-2
Second Reading - Short Debate
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Energy & Environment Committee; 016-009-000
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Energy & Environment Committee
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 6, 2026
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Other
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Reading-2
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate Energy & Environment Committee; 017-009-000