Environment

Amends the Petroleum Underground Storage Tanks Title of the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that a municipality or county may, to the same extent as an owner or operator, conduct tank removal, abandonment, site investigation, and corrective action with respect to a petroleum orphan underground storage tank in accordance with the requirements of the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program, except that a municipality or county does not have to elect to proceed as an owner and the costs shall be eligible for payment from the Underground Storage Tank Fund. Defines "orphan underground storage tank". Makes conforming and other changes in provisions regarding the Underground Storage Tank Fund.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Underground Storage Tank Fund shall be accessible by owners and operators who intend to remove underground storage tanks installed over 30 years before removal if the eligibility requirements of specified provisions are satisfied and (1) neither the owner nor the operator is the United States Government; (2) the tank does not contain fuel which is exempt from the Motor Fuel Tax Law; (3) the costs were incurred as a result of removing an underground storage tank installed over 30 years prior to removal; (4) the owner or operator registered the tank and paid all fees in accordance with the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Gasoline Storage Act; (5) the owner or operator notified the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of the State Fire Marshal of the owner's or operator's intent to remove the underground storage tank; and (6) the costs have not already been paid to the owner or operator under a private insurance policy, other written agreement, or court order.

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.

Amends the Healthy Forests, Wetlands, and Prairies Act. Provides that all grants issued under the Act shall be cost-share grants. Provides that the cost-share approved by the Department of Natural Resources may include in-kind contributions of the applicant. Provides that grants issued under the Act may be used as matching funds for federal grant awards whose purpose is in line with the Act.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that an owner or operator of a community water supply may, by an additional method approved by the State, give written notice of the existence of lead service lines that are connected to buildings. Provides that an owner or operator of a community water supply that performs at least 4,000 lead service line replacements per year or exceeds a statutorily prescribed lead service line replacement rate is exempt from a provision that prohibits partial lead service line replacements. Provides that, in a municipality with a population of more than 1,000,000 inhabitants, the owner of a private property upon which there is located a renter-occupied building, a building that is used as a day care, or a multi-dwelling building must allow the community water supply access to replace the lead service line on the private side of the property.

Expresses strong support for the American High Speed Rail Act of 2026 and commends Illinois congressional delegation members for their leadership as original cosponsors of this landmark legislation. Urges the United States Congress to advance and pass the American High Speed Rail Act of 2026 and to ensure that any federal surface transportation reauthorization package includes substantial, dedicated funding for high-speed and higher-speed rail development nationwide. Calls upon the Trump administration to include robust funding for high-speed rail in its federal budget proposals. Affirms support for the ongoing work of the Illinois High Speed Rail Commission and the Illinois Department of Transportation in developing a statewide high-speed rail plan. Recognizes this state-level planning effort represents the kind of serious groundwork that merits strong federal investment.

Amends the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys in the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Fund may not be appropriated, assigned, or transferred to another State fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Farmer Tax Benefit Act. Provides that taxpayers may apply to the Department of Natural Resources for an income tax credit in an amount equal to either (i) 100% of the fair market value of a qualified donation to a conservation agency of a land protection agreement or (ii) 50% of the fair market value of the qualified donation to a conservation agency of a fee simple interest or a remainder interest in qualified real property. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes.

Creates the River Access Modernization Act. Affirms the public's right to use navigable and recreationally suitable waters for canoeing, boating, kayaking, and angling, subject to protection of private property rights and environmental values. Provides that the public right of use does not include crossing private uplands or exiting onto private land without permission. Establishes landowner liability protections. Prohibits littering and alteration of flora and fauna. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Natural Resources to designate public access points, resolve conflicts, promote safety and conservation education, and maintain a listing of navigable waterways. Defines "navigable water" and "public recreational use".

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Natural Resources shall design, implement, and evaluate not more than 3 demonstration projects that test natural flood risk reduction practices in flood-prone areas of the State, as determined by the Department, with certain requirements. Provides that the Department may require a county to submit to the Department a progress report with certain information. Provides that the Department shall submit to the General Assembly and to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security a report with certain information. Allows the Department to adopt rules.