Legislators who received a perfect score are: Representative Daniel Biss, Representative Kelly Cassidy, Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Representative Kimberly du Buclet, Representative Sara Feigenholtz, Representative LaShawn Ford, Representative Elizabeth Hernandez, Representative Camille Lilly, Representative Karen May, Representative Rita Mayfield, Representative Deborah Mell, and Representative Ann Williams.
The highest score in the Illinois Senate was received by Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg.
- Several bills that passed nearly unanimously were part of complex, multi-year efforts by the environmental community. For example, HB4496 requires an update to the plumbing code for conservation. This bill was part of an effort by several groups for over five years and finally was passed as an agreed to bill this year. Similarly, SB2950 (BPA) and HB5642 (CAFOs) were part of multi year efforts and passed this year.
- Topics considered on this scorecard cover many of IEC”s priority areas. This includes clean energy (Yes to SB3811, No to SB3766), Land preservation (SB1566), Toxics (SB2950), Water quality and Conservation (HB4496, HB3888), and Recycling and Waste (HB4986 and HB3881).
View the entire scorecard here.
Donate to receive a free copy in the mail.
Bills on this year’s scorecard are below
SB 3811: Net Metering – SB3811 makes a technical fix to Illinois’ net metering law to support renewable energy development in Illinois.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
SB2950: Toxin Free Toddler Act – SB2950 prohibits the sale of children’s food or beverage containers made with the toxic chemical bisphenol-A.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB5071: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – HB5071 Clear the way for increased use of electric vehicles in Illinois by clarifying the law so that electric charging stations will not be regulated as electric utilities by the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB3881: No Chicago Landfills – HB3881 prohibits new or expanded landfills from being located in Cook County.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB5642: CAFO Permit Fees – HB5642 helps ensure that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has the funding it needs to fully enforce the clean water act by placing the first pollution discharge permit fees on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB 5539: Agriculture Pollution Prevention – HB 5539 places a voluntary tax on fertilizer to fund an agriculture pollution prevention research council and pollution prevention efforts.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB4986: Recycling Commission – HB4986 creates a commission to review and recommend improvements to Illinois’ recycling laws.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
SB2897: Benefit Corporation Act – SB2897 creates a new type of corporation called a benefit corporation. These corporations provide better legal protections to businesses that have sustainability as part of their corporate mission.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB4496: Plumbing Code Update – HB4496 requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to update Illinois’ plumbing code to reflect new water saving technologies.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB4119: Shark Fin Ban – HB4119 bans the sale or possession of shark fins in Illinois to protect the unnecessary slaughter of threatened and endangered species.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
HB3888: Invasive Species – HB3888 helps prevent the spread of invasive species, which can devastate ecosystems between Illinois lakes. Requires owners to remove aquatic plants or animals before transporting the vehicle
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
SB1566: DNR funding – SB1566 provides sustainable funding for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to protect our state parks and natural resources.
Pro-Environment Vote: Yes
SB3766: Leucadia Power Plant – SB3766 boosts highly polluting technologies by providing financing of the Leucadia coal gasification facility on the southeast side of Chicago.
Pro-Environment Vote: No
SB3442: Prohibition of Municipal Plastic Bag Bans, Fees, and Programs – SB3442 prohibits municipalities from regulating plastic bags through bans, fees, or takeback programs removing a community’s ability to reduce plastic bag waste.
Pro-Environment Vote: No