FOOD WASTE&COMPOSTING
Summary
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Repeals the definition of "food scrap"; adds definitions for "anaerobic digestion", "biogas", "digestate", "food waste", "organic material", and "organic waste"; and updates the definitions of "compost" and "composting". In provisions regarding pollution control facilities, includes a new exemption for portions of sites or facilities used for composting or anaerobic digestion of organic waste that meet specified siting, setback, floodplain, and operational requirements. In provisions regarding prohibited acts, establishes permitting requirements for organic waste composting operations and organic waste anaerobic digesters, and creates exemptions for small-scale and certain farm-based composting operations that meet volume limits, setback distances, and other environmental safeguards. Provides that anaerobic digesters using only non-waste feedstock are exempt from solid waste permitting and clarifies that digested material returned to the economic mainstream is not regulated as waste. Authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to recommend, and the Pollution Control Board to adopt, performance standards for organic waste compost facilities and testing procedures for end-product compost, and requires a Technical Advisory Committee with balanced stakeholder representation. Specifies that standards apply to compost offered for sale or use and exempts on-site residential composting. Makes conforming changes throughout to integrate new definitions and regulatory requirements.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Apr 10, 2026
Signed Jul 31, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
2 edits
·
Jul 31, 2026
MINOR
The bill text was finalized for official enactment, changing the version title from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled'. The substantive definition of a 'pollution control facility' was slightly refined to clarify that the term includes sites used for treating petroleum-contaminated materials via soil application or storage before treatment. Additionally, the definition was updated to specify that certain used oil processing facilities must originate from collectors regulated under specific administrative code provisions to qualify.
Scope change
The scope of the definition for 'pollution control facility' was narrowed and clarified regarding used oil processing sites, ensuring they are explicitly tied to specific regulatory codes for used oil collectors.
DEFINITION
The definition of 'pollution control facility' was modified to explicitly include sites treating petroleum-contaminated materials through soil application or pre-treatment storage, and to clarify that used oil processing sites must originate from collectors regulated under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 739.
TECHNICAL
The document header was updated from 'HB5541 Engrossed' to 'HB5541 Enrolled' to reflect the bill's final status for legislative enactment.
Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2026 · House Apr 9, 2026
How they voted
58–0
Passed
Total votes 58
May 21, 2026
D
Democratic39
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
8
Committee
8
Amendments
2
Jul 31, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Approved
lower
May 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Both Houses
lower
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading - Passed; 059-000-000
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Do Pass Environment and Conservation; 007-000-000
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Environment and Conservation
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 103-000-000
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Energy & Environment Committee; 026-000-000
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Energy & Environment Committee; by Voice Vote
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Energy & Environment Committee
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Introduced
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Anna Moeller
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Energy & Environment Committee
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Anna Moeller
DDemocratic
Co
Javier Cervantes
DDemocratic
Co
Sonya Harper
DDemocratic
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