Capitol Dispatch 6.1.26: That’s a wrap on the 2026 Spring Legislative Session
Quick look at what did and didn’t pass this session.
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plastic pollution
Illinois’ Natural Resources and Climate Goals At Risk Amid Legislature’s Inaction on the POWER Act
Illinois – Today, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned without taking action on the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513) – commonsense legislation that would enact nation-leading guardrails on data centers. Instead, state lawmakers opted to continue doling out tax dollars to subsidize Big Tech. “The longer state leadership waits to enact the commonsense protections the POWER Act
600 Illinoisans Rally at the State Capitol As Lawmakers Appear Poised to Leave Springfield Without Enacting Data Center Guardrails
Illinois – Over 600 Illinoisans rallied at the Illinois State Capitol today for the Illinois Environmental Council’s POWER Act Lobby Day and met with their legislators to urge passage of the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513). This nation-leading legislation would enact guardrails to protect our water, energy, ratepayers, and frontline communities from data center impacts. Despite the
STATEMENT: Bill to address plastic pellet pollution heads to Gov. Pritzker’s desk
Illinois to officially recognize plastic pellets as a pollutant under state law
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Where environmental priorities stand now
We’ve reached another important deadline as we move into the final week of session. Learn more about the current status of important bills.
Where environmental priorities stand now Read More »
What you might have missed in Springfield at Third Reading Deadline
We’ve reached an important deadline in both chambers. Learn more about where important bills stand now as we move further into the final weeks of the regular legislative session.
What you might have missed in Springfield at Third Reading Deadline Read More »
Legislative Business is Heating Up in the Halls of the State Capitol
Our legislative team at IEC has been hard at work making sure bill sponsors have the tools and public support they need to move our environmental priorities forward this session.
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With Gov. Pritzker’s Signature, Illinois Moves to Phase Out Toxic Forever Chemicals
SLegislature successfully tackles several common “PFAS”-polluted household products Springfield, IL – Governor JB Pritzker, on Friday, August 15, signed legislation that the state’s clean water advocates are hailing as a significant step forward in tackling the growing threat of toxic water pollution. Sponsored by Senator Julie Morrison and Representative Abdelnasser Rashid, HB2516 phases out the
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Clean water advocates say new law will protect drinking water from PFAS contamination
Gov. JB Pritzker has signed legislation that clean water advocates say will reduce toxic water pollution. The PFAS Reduction Act will phase out the use of manufactured per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS, by 2032. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Julie Morrison and Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid. The new law targets PFAS in children’s products, cosmetics,
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Illinois legislators skip on several environmental bills
Some big environmental bills — dealing with transit, clean energy, plastics and more — fizzled last week in Springfield. Advocates say they’re ready to pick up the pieces. Why it matters: State environmental protections have grown in importance for climate advocates as the Trump administration rolls back regulations at the federal level. Biggest losses Public transit: The General Assembly’s failure
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Wrapping Up the 2025 Illinois Legislative Session
Our team has been on the ground at the Capitol for the last five months, all the way up until the final moments this evening. And you’ve been right there with us.
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How can Chicago help curb Lake Michigan microplastic pollution?
Every year, 11.6 million pounds of plastic trash makes its way into Lake Michigan, Chicago’s largest source of drinking water. Even as the city tries to tackle this issue, it means that microplastics — the tiniest pieces — pass through the cities’ filtration systems and into our faucets. Researchers have found that ingesting plastics can have detrimental
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A Sprint to Accelerate Illinois’ Clean Energy Progress
With two full weeks of the legislative session left before the May 31 deadline, IEC is working overtime to ensure our priorities cross the finish line.
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The plastic we drink: How can Chicago help curb Lake Michigan microplastic pollution?
“This is a huge problem that we need to address at a systemic level,” said Gabby Plotkin, senior policy manager at Illinois Environmental Council. Right now, she added, municipal filters can’t remove microplastics. “The only way to do that would be on an individual level like buying a filter that particularly addresses microplastics,” Plotkin said.
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After years of negotiations, state lawmakers consider measures to phase out plastic bags, foam food containers
After more than a decade of negotiations and failed efforts to reduce the use of plastics, Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would prohibit large retailers from offering single-use plastic bags and ban the use of most polystyrene containers in the state over the next four to five years. Advocates, citing the threat of rising
Illinois lawmakers consider banning plastic bags for large retailers
Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, has been working for more than 12 years on the bill to reduce the use of plastic bags. She believes this is the year it will make it across the finish line. “(Plastic bags) are a huge percentage of litter,” Walling said. “They clog infrastructure, they’re
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Plastic is in your brain. Researchers and advocates still aren’t sure how that impacts health
Whether you’re a hot cup of tea and meditate kind of person or a toss the leftover pizza in the microwave kind of person, you probably ate plastic this morning. Tiny plastic particles called microplastics easily find their way into the things we eat and drink — and there’s little you can do to avoid
Conservation Advocacy in Illinois
We’re midway through the legislative session. Our team has been hard at work this week rounding up roll call votes for many of the bills we’ve been tracking.
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Tackling Plastic Pollution in Illinois
Our legislative team at IEC has been working hard to ensure our bill sponsors have the tools and public support to advance our agenda this session.
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Microplásticos: Contaminantes Invisibles
Dany Robles speaks to the amount of microplastics ingested by each person in a week — one credit card’s worth. Escuche esto: si le dijera que esta semana comió y bebió la cantidad de plástico que vale esta tarjeta de crédito, ¿qué pensaría? En este investigación especial, conocemos lo microplásticos como un contaminante invisible que
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