Environment

passed · Illinois · Senate May 8, 2025

SR 100: COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK

Senate Resolution 100 declares the week of May 4 through May 10, 2025, as "Compost Awareness Week." This resolution formally recognizes the importance of composting and aims to raise public awareness about it during this designated period.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes composting awareness, a practice that reduces landfill waste and methane emissions, aligning with environmental protection goals.80% confidence

Track

in committee · Illinois · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 2638: $DEPT AG-SWCD

Appropriates $10,500,000 to the Department of Agriculture from the Partners for Conservation Fund for grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for ordinary and contingent administrative expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $10.5M from state fund for administrative expenses, directly funding public program operations per budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill appropriates $10.5M from Partners for Conservation Fund to Soil and Water Conservation Districts for conservation-related administrative expenses, directly funding environmental resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

passed · Illinois · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 3399: GEOTHERMAL HOMES AND BUSINESS

Creates the Geothermal Homes and Business Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the long-term renewable resources procurement plan developed by the Illinois Power Agency shall include a Geothermal Homes and Business Program for the procurement of geothermal renewable energy credits. Sets forth provisions concerning the geothermal heating and cooling system calculation methodology; Program block allocation; Program block pricing; approved vendors; contract terms; utility cost recovery; extenuating circumstances; administration of the Act by the Illinois Power Agency; and the prohibition of double claiming geothermal renewable energy credits. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates geothermal renewable energy program requiring Illinois Power Agency to include geothermal credits in procurement plan, advancing clean energy infrastructure and renewable adoption95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates geothermal program for renewable energy credits, advancing clean energy adoption and reducing emissions per bill's mandate for geothermal procurement95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

Track

in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 3029: EPA-SINGLE-USE FOODWARE

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a food dispensing establishment may provide single-use foodware only upon the request of a customer or at a self-service station. Specifies that food dispensing establishments shall provide options for customers to affirmatively request single-use foodware when ordering food and beverages for delivery or take-out across all ordering or point of sale platforms, including internet-enabled applications, digital platforms, phone orders, and in-person ordering. Exempts certain types of foodware and certain types of facilities from the provisions of the amendatory Act. Provides that the owner or operator of a food service establishment that violates these provisions is to be assessed a civil penalty. Directs civil penalties imposed for violations of these provisions to be deposited into the Solid Waste Management Fund for use by the Agency for the purposes of expanding and funding climate-related programs and pollution-related programs. Makes other changes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts single-use foodware by requiring customer request, reducing plastic waste and aligning with pollution control goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Waste Management

Track

in committee · Illinois · Senate Feb 7, 2025

SB 2320: PROP TX-WOODED ACREAGE

SB 2320 extends Illinois' special property tax assessment for wooded acreage through December 31, 2029. It applies to landowners who previously qualified for this lower tax rate by having their property classified as farmland in 2006. The bill maintains the current tax calculation method - using a transition percentage based on 2006 values - until 2029. After that date, properties must revert to standard assessment rules unless they continue to meet the wooded acreage criteria.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends tax incentive for wooded acreage, preserving natural resources and discouraging land development per conservation intent.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Illinois · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 1582: EPA-APPLIANCE STANDARDS

Creates the Appliance Standards Act. Directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to adopt minimum efficiency standards for covered products. Provides for testing, certification, and labeling of covered products. Contains provisions concerning enforcement of the Act's requirements. Provides for administrative rulemaking by the Agency. Makes findings. Defines terms.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates minimum efficiency standards for appliances, directly reducing energy consumption and aligning with energy efficiency goals per the summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSets minimum efficiency standards for appliances, reducing energy consumption and pollution through EPA enforcement requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency

Track

in committee · Illinois · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 3182: $DCEO-FOREST PRESERVE

Appropriates the amount of $709,500 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County for the administration and operation of Greencorps Chicago and Forest Preserve Experience programs within the Conservation Corps program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $709,500 from General Revenue Fund to fund conservation programs, advancing public service funding under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds conservation programs (Greencorps Chicago, Forest Preserve Experience) under Conservation Corps, directly supporting natural resource protection and environmental management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Forestry

Track

passed · Illinois · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 3541: ILLINOIS CLIMATE WORKS PROGRAM

Amends the Energy Transition Act. Provides that the Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program shall recruit, prescreen, and provide pre-apprenticeship training relevant to clean energy apprenticeships in the construction and building trades and that the Program shall meet certain requirements regarding applicant placements (rather than requiring each Climate Works Hub that receives funding from the Energy Transition Assistance Fund to perform certain actions).

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAmends Energy Transition Act to fund clean energy apprenticeship program training workers for renewable energy infrastructure jobs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program for clean energy construction trades, directly promoting workforce development in climate-focused sectors under Energy Transition Act amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

Track

in committee · Illinois · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 1347: EPA-WIND FACILITY FLUID LEAK

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding prohibited acts, provides that no person shall operate a commercial energy conversion facility in a manner that causes, threatens, or allows the release of oil, lubricant, hydraulic fluid, transformer solvent, insulation fluid, cleaning fluid, or any other similar fluid from the facility. Provides that any person who violates this prohibition shall, for each day of violation, be liable for a civil penalty of $1,000. Provides for a 100% reduction in penalty for a person who promptly self-discloses noncompliance with this provision and promptly begins repairs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPrevents pollution from fluid leaks at energy facilities with $1,000/day penalties, strengthening environmental protection under EPA regulations.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Illinois · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 247: EPA-FILING FEES

SB 247 increases filing fees for specific environmental petitions under Illinois' Environmental Protection Act from $75 to $250. It directly affects individuals and organizations submitting petitions for site-specific regulations, variances, permit reviews, local government decision contests, or adjusted water quality standards. The bill changes the required fee amount for these five petition types while clarifying that converting a variance petition to a time-limited water quality standard petition does not require an additional fee. This is a straightforward fee adjustment with no other policy changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases filing fees ($75→$250) generating additional state revenue for environmental oversight, directly supporting fiscal management under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentIncreases filing fees for environmental petitions, creating financial barriers to public participation in regulatory processes, weakening enforcement of environmental protections.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Water Quality

Track