Environment

Creates the Single-Use Plastic Bag Reduction Act. Defines terms. Prohibits, starting July 1, 2026, a retail mercantile establishment from offering or making available a single-use checkout bag to consumers at the point of sale. Allows a retail mercantile establishment to offer a recycled paper bag or reusable bag to consumers. Requires a fee of at least $0.10 per recycled bag to be retained by the retail mercantile establishment. Exempts bags for certain governmental food assistance programs. Limits use of the fee with respect to credit card and other fees. Provides for educational material and signage. Provides for enforcement, including civil penalties. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. In provisions concerning powers and duties of the Illinois Finance Authority in furtherance of its clean energy powers and purposes, provides that the Authority shall have the power to utilize certain funding sources for clean water, drinking water, and wastewater treatment or climate resilience projects. Amends the Climate Bank Loan Financing Act. Defines "climate resilience project" to mean a project to reduce hazards or risks to people and property from future disasters or climate-related conditions. Provides that "climate resilience project" includes, but is not limited to, projects that ensure access to clean water and drinking water, support wastewater treatment or resiliency of other essential infrastructure and other projects that reduce the potential impact of disasters or climate change. Adds climate resilience projects to provisions concerning clean energy infrastructure projects and authority to issue bonds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to trap or to hunt gray fox except during an open season, which may (rather than will) be set annually by the Director of Natural Resources between 12:01 a.m., November 1 to 12:00 midnight, February 15, both inclusive. Allows the Director, by administrative rule, to set the dates of, lengthen, shorten, or close the season during which gray fox may be taken. Allows the Director to also set, lessen, or increase the daily bag limit or possession limit of gray fox by administrative rule. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Department of Natural Resources emergency rulemaking powers. Effective immediately.

Declares April 1, 2025 as Skip the Plastic Day in the State of Illinois. urges all residents, businesses, and visitors to reduce plastic waste and protect our environment. Commends all businesses that willingly participate in Skip the Plastic Day by only offering single-use plastic items, including straws and cutlery, by request and that take proactive steps toward reducing plastic waste. Commends all residents who refuse the use of single-use plastic items.

Amends the Consumer Electronics Recycling Act. Adds and changes definitions. Changes references to residential covered electronic devices (CEDs) to references to CEDs from covered entities. Adds a nonprofit organization or recycler to certain provisions regarding the use of a retail or private network (rather than only retail) collection site with the agreement of the applicable retailer under certain local agreements. Changes references to retail collection sites to references to retail or private network collection sites. Adds to requirements for certain agreements, including those to be reduced to writing and included in the manufacturer e-waste program plan. Adds to requirements for the manufacturer e-waste program plan. Adds conditions in certain provisions regarding the applicable county, municipal joint action agency, or municipality. Adds certain waivers for charges for shortfalls in provisions regarding collection of CEDs. Adds requirements for the Advisory Electronics Task Force to submit certain information to the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as to communicate regarding certain updates and certain feedback. Adds provisions regarding education and consumer awareness requirements. Deletes an automatic repeal provision.