Environment

Amends the Real Property Conservation Rights Act. Provides that a conservation right includes preserving cultural heritage sites. Provides that any owner of real property in the State may convey a conservation right in such real property to a federally recognized Indian tribe or a State-recognized Indian tribe. Provides definitions for federally recognized Indian tribe and State-recognized Indian tribe. Provides that any holder of a conservation right may transfer or assign a conservation right to an entity eligible to hold such rights as described in the Act. Provides that a conservation right may be enforced in an action seeking injunctive relief, specific performance, or damages by any federally recognized Indian tribe or State-recognized Indian tribe that owns the conservation right.

Creates the Protecting Illinois Native Landscapes Act. Provides that a unit of local government may not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution that prohibits or unreasonably restricts an owner, authorized agent, or authorized occupant of privately owned residential land or a premises from allowing Illinois native species to voluntarily grow within the landscape or to install and maintain Illinois native species within a managed native landscape. Provides that native landscaping that may not be prohibited includes small or large areas of native landscaping in the front, back, or side yard or in areas that do not fit a standard definition of yard, such as areas on farms, rural properties, corporate campuses, school campuses, and large estates. Excludes from the scope of the Act an ordinance or resolution of a unit of local government that prohibits plants, trees, or other landscaping from interfering with public transportation, vehicular traffic, or driveway or entrance road sight lines or from crossing sidewalks or property boundaries. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation and collaboration with the Department of Central Management Services and the Capital Development Board, to develop one or more standards for State purchases of appliances, concrete, asphalt, steel, and other building materials, subject to appropriation or the award of grant funding for this purpose. Provides that in developing these standards, the establishment of a maximum acceptable Global Warming Potential standard, as well as ways to promote and facilitate the use of life cycle assessments and environmental product declarations, shall be considered when considering bids for State-funded infrastructure projects.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Transportation Choices Act. Requires, by January 1, 2027, the Environmental Protection Agency, after consultation with the Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), to establish a schedule of greenhouse gas targets for greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in the State. Requires the Department and MPOs to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions analysis and determine if their applicable planning document will result in meeting their greenhouse gas targets. Requires the Department and MPOs to perform a greenhouse gas emissions analysis prior to including a roadway capacity expansion project in an applicable planning document. Requires, by January 1, 2029 and every 3 years thereafter, the Department to prepare a comprehensive report on statewide transportation greenhouse gas reduction accomplishments and challenges and to make recommendations for any legislative action that would assist the Department and MPOs in meeting their greenhouse gas targets. Requires the Department and MPOs to calculate a climate equity accessibility score prior to including any project that has an anticipated cost of $30,000,000 or more in an applicable planning document or as a greenhouse gas mitigation measure. Requires the Department and MPOs to provide early and continuous opportunities for public participation in the transportation planning process. Requires, beginning June 30, 2026, the Department and MPOs to establish a social cost of carbon and use the social cost of carbon in their planning documents and planning activities. Establishes the Greenhouse Gas in Transportation Working Group. Provides that the specified requirements of the provisions shall commence with projects included in applicable planning documents filed on or after January 1, 2028. Makes other changes. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to calculate a social cost of carbon and makes other changes.

Creates the Advancing Federally Regulated Illinois Transmission Projects Act. Provides that the Department of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may identify one or more Projects for potential application of the PJM State Agreement Approach that the Director determines may improve the resilience, reliability, and access to clean energy of the ratepayers of a public utility with more than 3,000,000 customers in this State. Sets forth eligibility criteria for the projects. Sets forth provisions concerning applications. Amends the Public Utilities Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions regarding commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.

SR 461 declares April 2026 as Prescribed Burning Awareness Month in Illinois. This resolution expresses support for the appropriate and continued use of prescribed fire within the state.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Fast-Track Nuclear Now Act. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes prohibitions on the construction of a new nuclear power reactor with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity that is located within the State. Amends the Illinois Nuclear Facility Safety Act. Provides that it is declared to be the policy of the State to facilitate new nuclear facility construction. Makes a conforming change. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security shall work with any proposed project, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and any relevant State agency to reduce regulatory barriers to new nuclear facility construction.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions about commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.