IEC Legislative Updates

Stay updated on all the environmental policy news in Illinois

Legislative Update in the Wake of COVID-19

As you probably know, we typically send out updates on the status of the environmental legislative agenda on a weekly basis during the legislative session. However, these are not typical times and it feels wrong to go about business as usual when we are all so focused on the gravity of threats posed by the coronavirus, COVID-19, in our communities.

IEC 2019 Veto Session Review

During this session, IEC focused on demonstrating public support for the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) and addressing ethylene oxide pollution.

2019 End of Session Update

The 2019 Illinois General Assembly legislative session ended on Sunday, June 2. IEC is proud to announce it was one of the most successful ever for the environmental community.

2,000 Monarch License Plate Decal Applications Received

More than 2,000 IEC, Sierra Club and NRDC supporters came together to apply for the new Specialty Monarch License Plate Decal, raising over $20,000 for roadside monarch habitat and ensuring the decal will be commissioned!

FY19 Budget and the Environment

This week, the General Assembly took steps to move forward a comprehensive budget for Fiscal Year 2019. As we are still dealing with the damage caused to environmental programs and our natural areas by the record-setting budget impasse, it’s vital that a sound budget is in place for our work growing clean jobs,

5/11 Update from Springfield

With 3 weeks remaining in the spring legislative session, IEC remains focused on a few important measures, and the ongoing budget negotiations. VW Settlement and a Clean Transportation Sector Thank you to all who took action on the VW settlement public comment period!  Nearly 700 supporters took action through IEC’s

2018 Environmental Lobby Day in Review

On Thursday, April 26th, nearly 300 advocates joined us in Springfield for Environmental Lobby Day. The strength of our community was clearly on display as attendees from all over Illinois met with their state legislators regarding our priority legislation for the session, and rallied in front of the Capitol. The

Committee Deadline Week

Friday, April 13th is the final deadline for bills to get out of committee in both chambers. It was a mixed week in Springfield for IEC: while many of the proposals we support advanced towards passage, others very bad proposals moved forward despite our strong opposition. Bills that do not

Governor’s Proposed FY19 Budget

Today, Governor Rauner released his FY19 Budget Proposal in an address to the General Assembly. The Governor’s budget is an effort to close an estimated $9 billion budget hole while also assuming a lower income tax rate than the increase that was passed last year. The final budget that comes

2018 Legislative Agenda

What will IEC be up to in 2018

The 2018 state legislative session began February, 30th 2018. With the Primary Election scheduled for March 20, session days are light between now and March. With continued threats to the environment coming from the federal level, we will be working harder than ever to defend existing protections and push environmental

CAFO Hearing

Since mid-2016, the Chicago Tribune has been publishing an investigative series highlighting the many human and environmental harms caused by confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). One shocking revelation came from IDNR records that show that half of all fish kills in Illinois rivers are related to spills from livestock operations.

Dynegy’s Double-Bailout Called Into Question at Hearing

Texas-based Dynegy Inc. has launched a two-pronged assault on our environment, public health, and ratepayers. In the past few weeks, Dynegy requested that the Illinois Pollution Control Board to rewrite the state’s Multi-Pollutant Standard (MPS), was sold to a fellow Texas-based energy giant, Vistra Energy, for $1.7 billion, and filed

Dynegy Double Bailout

Dynegy’s Double-Bailout

11 Senators and 33 Representatives Oppose SB 2250 and HB 4141, Dynegy’s Double-Bailout Dynegy, a Texas-based energy giant, has been busy pushing bailouts in multiple venues with Illinois policymakers, while at the same time entering into a mega-merger with another Texas-based energy giant, Vistra Energy. This sale is estimated to

SB550

Preventing Lead in Drinking Water Passes!

The Illinois General Assembly approved SB550, or the Preventing Lead in Drinking Water bill. Because there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, IEC has worked hard over the past year to pass legislation that would require basic steps to protect children from lead poisoning. This bill is

Oppose Sweeps to Energy and Conservation

Legislation advanced to immediately sweep funding important to the environmental community SB274 Amendment #1 takes funding from numerous dedicated funds, including but not limited to: $37 million for OSLAD (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development) Nearly $5 million from NAAF (Natural Areas Acquisition Fund) Over $1 million from the Partners

Legislative Report

Everything you need to know about committee deadline week

With the March Primary Election behind us, legislative proposals are starting to move through committee.  Unfortunately, proposals only have until March 28 to get out of committee and there is so much that needs to get done this week. Bills that don’t get out of committee generally need a deadline