Environment

Amends the Environmental Justice Act. Creates the Environmental Justice Public Participation Program. Establishes purpose and definitions. Creates the Office of Environmental Justice within the Environmental Protection Agency. Sets forth the duties of the Office. Provides that the requirements of the provisions apply to specified permitting actions within areas of environmental justice concern. Requires the Office to use environmental justice notifications to contact people located in areas of environmental justice concern, elected officials, and other interested parties to notify of a proposed permit action in that particular area of environmental justice concern. Provides that if an area is not designated as an area of environmental justice concern due to an error in the Agency's application of EJ Start, a resident of that area may make a request in writing to the Agency for reconsideration of the designation upon providing the Office census data that would otherwise demonstrate the area is an area of environmental justice concern or minority population greater than twice the statewide average. Provides that if an area is designated as an area of environmental justice concern due to an error in the Agency's application of EJ Start, a resident of that area may make a request in writing to the Agency for reconsideration of the designation upon providing the Office census data that would otherwise demonstrate that the area is not an area of environmental justice concern or minority population greater than twice the statewide average. Establishes requirements to apply to permitting transactions in areas of environmental justice concern. Requires the Agency to establish a grievance procedure. Requires the Agency to provide a report to the Commission on Environmental Justice annually regarding the status of all grievances made under the provisions.

Creates the Wind Turbine Stewardship and Takeback Program Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2026, a wind turbine owner shall participate in a wind turbine stewardship and takeback program under which, where realistic, the wind turbine owner shall recycle wind turbine components that are not toxic after their useful life instead of disposing them in landfills. Requires wind turbine owners to file plans for the wind turbine stewardship and takeback program with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that the Agency shall develop guidance for wind turbine stewardship and takeback programs established under the Act. Allows the Agency to adopt rules to implement the Act.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2030, no person shall sell or offer for sale in the State a new washing machine for residential, commercial, or State use unless the washing machine: (1) contains a microfiber filtration system with a mesh size of not greater than 100 micrometers; and (2) bears a conspicuous label that is visible to the consumer, in the form of a sticker or any other label type, that includes a specified statement. Provides that a person or entity who violates this prohibition shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $30,000 for each subsequent violation.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Environmental Protection Agency for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: Other State Funds $538,365,638; Federal Funds $127,354,278; Total $665,719,916.

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.

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.

Creates the Single-Use Plastic Bag Reduction Act. Defines terms. Prohibits, starting July 1, 2026, a retail mercantile establishment from offering or making available a single-use checkout bag to consumers at the point of sale. Allows a retail mercantile establishment to offer a recycled paper bag or reusable bag to consumers. Requires a fee of at least $0.10 per recycled bag to be retained by the retail mercantile establishment. Exempts bags for certain governmental food assistance programs. Limits use of the fee with respect to credit card and other fees. Provides for educational material and signage. Provides for enforcement, including civil penalties. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Responsible Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Specifies that all new luminaires installed on a structure or land that is owned and managed by the Department of Transportation, including roadways, facilities, properties, nonhabitable structures, monuments, and public right-of-way spaces, must comply with the outdoor lighting control requirements set forth in the Act.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Natural Resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $104,161,333; Other State Funds $409,606,767; Federal Funds $128,060,500; Total $641,828,600.

Amends the Illinois Solid Waste Management Act. Adds thermal conversion to the State's solid waste management hierarchy. Defines "thermal conversion" as the process by which a solid feedstock can be converted to produce environmentally safe products, including, but not limited to, liquid fuels, chemicals, hydrogen, and other products.