As we expected, this legislative session has been a tough one. Even now that the primary election has concluded and legislators’ attention has turned back to legislative business, they are swamped by significant competing priorities, making it very difficult to move many of our environmental priorities forward.
Today is the Third Reading Deadline in both chambers. In general, bills that have not advanced today will not advance this session or will need to be amended onto a different active piece of legislation to move forward in the legislative process.
Our movement faced some disappointing setbacks this week, but we are confident that when opportunities arise, we do have the votes needed for our most important initiatives. We’ll be fighting for every single opportunity we can make. So stay tuned and ready for when we issue an urgent call to action!
But it’s not all gloom under the Capitol dome since our last update. On April 8, we made waves at the Capitol when 250 environmentalists gathered for Environmental Lobby Day to advocate for the Wetlands Protection Act, Foam Foodware Ban, POWER Act, and for legislators to oppose utility rate hikes. Our Environmental Lobby Day sent a powerful message to legislators and helped strengthen the resolve of our environmental community. To quote my colleague Cate Caldwell, who rightly said at our rally that day, “When we fight, we win.”
Check out IEC’s Environmental Legislative Agenda for a comprehensive look at the legislation we’ve been most actively working on during this legislative session. Read on to learn more about the latest on significant environmental bills:
Environmental Justice (SB3772)
Legislation establishing Illinois’ first framework for “environmental justice areas” passed through the Illinois Senate this week. While this bill is a first step, it does create the first statutory analysis of environmental justice areas through 13 environmental and six demographic factors. In environmental justice areas, this bill gives IEPA explicit authority to enhance permit requirements, increase inspections and monitoring, and increase public participation. This bill originated from a settlement won by the Southeast Environmental Task Force during the fight against General Iron. We are very proud to have worked on this proposal, which will be a step forward in increasing air pollution controls in vulnerable areas.
Save Illinois Wetlands (HB3596/SB2401)
IEC and our partners have been fighting for legislation reinstating legal protections for some of Illinois’ most vulnerable wetlands, after the U.S. Supreme Court and the Trump administration moved to strip most wetlands in the United States of federal Clean Water Act protections. Languishing in the legislature for the last two regular legislative sessions, with your help, pressure from lobby day, and a new amendment, the bill passed out of committee on Wednesday. Despite having support secured in the Illinois House, not all of our yes votes were present on the House floor when we needed them to call the bill for a vote. We simply ran out of time in the House. Big agricultural interests have worked hard to kill the bill, claiming it would protect every “puddle” instead of its true purpose: to protect scientifically defined wetlands. This remains a top priority, and we will continue to explore options and opportunities to get it done as soon as possible.
Farewell to Foam and Other Plastic Pollution
A bill to address plastic pellet pollution (HB4418) has passed the Illinois House and is now headed to the Senate. These small, lightweight pellets are the building blocks of plastic and a major source of environmental contamination when spilled into our waterways.
We are also continuing to advocate for “Skip the Stuff” legislation that ensures single-use plastic utensils are provided only upon request. This commonsense bill has already passed the House and remains a key priority this session.
At the same time, we are actively educating lawmakers about the health and environmental risks of polystyrene foam foodware. That legislation has already cleared one chamber, so it was not subject to last week’s third reading deadline, but we are pushing to see it enacted as soon as possible.
Clean Energy Future
We’re celebrating an important defensive win this week. A bill to create a fully fossil-fuel-dominated commission on energy choices and capacity (HB5195) failed to advance in the Illinois House due to opposition from our allies.
Additionally, while the POWER Act hasn’t yet advanced out of committee or either chamber, we remain confident about its long-term prospects. Energy bills are typically tackled as large omnibus legislation, and we expect lengthy discussions on this important issue that can extend beyond this session. This week and last, the Senate Energy and the House Executive committees held subject matter hearings with experts and local organizers on policy concerns related to data centers. These lengthy hearings provided testimony on all aspects of the POWER Act.
While working to enact state-level guardrails through the POWER Act, we’re also working with communities across the state who are facing an influx of data center proposals. We are especially proud of our work on the new ordinance in the city of Aurora with Mayor John Laesch. Whether your community hosts data centers, is facing development proposals, or you’re concerned about how these facilities affect all Illinoisans, we need you to join us at our POWER Act Lobby Day on Saturday, May 30 to demand climate and community action on data centers.
Click here to register for our next Lobby Day!
Protecting Kids from Toxic Pesticide Exposure (HB1596)
Prairie Rivers Network, Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, and many conservation partners worked diligently this year to address the impacts of pesticide drift on our parks, playgrounds, local food systems, and natural areas through the Pesticide Notification Act (HB1596). After significant negotiations on this legislation, large agricultural interests would not agree to a bill requiring notification of locations where children congregate before spraying, and the bill will not move forward this session. Advocates plan to reconvene this summer for an education campaign and continue negotiations with agriculture, conservation, and education stakeholders with the goal of advancing this policy in 2027.
Farmer Tax Benefit Act (HB 4849)
This bill has gained strong momentum this session, including unanimous passage out of the House Revenue Committee and growing bipartisan support. The bill would create a state income tax incentive for landowners who permanently protect farmland and natural areas. This week, partners, including American Farmland Trust, Openlands, The Nature Conservancy, and The Conservation Fund, met with targets to build additional legislative support with the goal of including this proposal in a final revenue package this session.
Addressing Invasive Mute Swans (HB5309)
A specific breed of swan, the Mute Swan, has become an invasive species, attacking native swans and other wildlife. This initiative from the Illinois Audubon Society will give IDNR tools to create a management plan that protects sensitive native species.
Natural Organic Reduction (HB5425)
We have been supporting a bill by Rep. Mary Beth Canty to make Illinois the next state to legalize an environmentally friendly burial option, natural organic reduction, more commonly known as composting. This bill passed the House 64 to 36.
More EVs Please! (HB2482 HFA2)
In celebration of another defensive win, a bill to block direct sale to consumers, automobile companies failed to advance this in the Illinois House. Because auto dealers sell only a small percentage of electric vehicles, the bill would have blocked emerging companies selling electric vehicles in Illinois, making it much harder for consumers to purchase a new EV.
Thank you for all of your support throughout this session so far. The work isn’t over. In fact, there is so much more left to do before the clock runs out this session. We are extremely motivated by the thousands of messages you all have sent to legislators with us. We know they make a difference.
Again, please consider attending our upcoming POWER Act Lobby Day. It will be one of the single most impactful things you can do this session to protect our environment. We are being ambitious this year and aiming to have 1,000 Illinoisans join us. So, we need you there! Click here to register.