Environment

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding wastewater reuse, provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the use of treated municipal wastewater from a publicly owned treatment works is authorized for irrigation and industrial use (rather than only irrigation) when conducted in accordance with a permit issued under certain provisions of the Act.

Amends the Renewable Energy Production District Act. Changes the definition of "renewable energy facility" to include, among other things, small modular reactors. Defines "small modular reactor". Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that owners and operators of CCR surface impoundments at electric generating plants that are bordering Lake Michigan shall close the CCR surface impoundment by removal by off-site disposal, pursuant to specified provisions and requirements. In additional provisions, requires an owner or operator to remove from his or her site, for off-site disposal, all CCR generated by a facility that is not disposed of, treated, stored, or abandoned in a CCR surface impoundment, and remediate all soil and groundwater impacted by that CCR, in accordance with specified requirements. Requires owners or operators to submit specified plans and reports to the Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that an owner or operator shall post with the Agency a performance bond or other security for the purpose of ensuring removal and remediation in accordance with the provisions. Provides that the Agency may enter into such contracts and agreements as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the provisions. Provides that neither the State, nor the Director of the Agency, nor any State employee shall be liable for any damages or injuries arising out of or resulting from any action taken under the provisions. Contains other provisions. Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.

Amends the Energy Transition Act. Adds electrification industries to clean energy jobs. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a gas utility may cease providing service if the Illinois Commerce Commission determines that adequate substitute service is available at a reasonable cost to support the existing end uses of the affected utility customers. Provides for cost-effective energy efficiency measures for natural gas utilities that supersede existing provisions concerning natural gas energy efficiency programs and take effect beginning January 1, 2025. Provides that gas main and gas service extension policies shall be based on the principle that the full incremental cost associated with new development and growth shall be borne by the customers that cause those incremental costs. Provides that, no later than 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Commission shall initiate a docketed rulemaking reviewing each gas public utility tariff that provides for gas main and gas service extensions without additional charge to new customers in excess of the default extensions as specified in administrative rule. Adds the Clean Building Heating Law Article to the Act, with provisions concerning emissions standards for heating in buildings, as well as related and other provisions. Adds the 2050 Heat Decarbonization Standard Article to the Act, with provisions concerning options for compliance, measures for customer emission reduction, customer emission reductions, tradable clean heat credits, banking of emission reductions, equity in emission reductions, enforcement, the 2050 Heat Decarbonization Pathways Study, gas infrastructure planning, a study on gas utility financial incentive reform, and reporting requirements. Adds the Statewide Navigator Program Law Article to the Act, with provisions concerning creation of a statewide navigator program, as well as related and other provisions. Effective immediately.

SR 172 declares April 2025 as Prescribed Burning Awareness Month in Illinois. This resolution supports the appropriate and continued use of prescribed fire within the state.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Creates the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure program. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall provide grants to petroleum marketers, petroleum terminal operators, and any other companies that the Department of Agriculture determines are eligible for grant funding. Provides that eligible expenditures include tank modifications, tanks, piping, and fuel dispensers. Provides that an eligible grant recipient shall not receive more than $1,000,000 in grant funding. Provides that no funding under the program shall be made available to a public body. Creates the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, $3,000,000 each calendar quarter from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Fund, unless the Underground Storage Tank Fund has a balance at or below $75,000,000. Creates the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Task Force. Sets forth membership and duties of the Task Force. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

HB 1645 bans the sale and use of ester formulations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a common herbicide, under Illinois law. This specifically affects farmers, landscapers, and homeowners who currently use products containing this chemical form. The bill amends the Illinois Pesticide Act to prohibit these ester-based products, while leaving other 2,4-D formulations (like amine-based ones) unaffected. The change directly restricts the availability and application of this specific pesticide chemical form within Illinois.

Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Council for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the Illinois Cultivated Meat Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to manufacture for sale, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute cultivated meat. Provides that a person who knowingly violates this Act commits a Class C misdemeanor. Allows for rulemaking by the Department of Agriculture. Makes a finding and states the purpose. Defines cultivated meat.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2030, a third-party delivery service shall not employ or contract with a person to deliver goods from a store or restaurant unless the person making the delivery uses a non-carbon emitting mode of transportation. Provides that the provision does not apply to a delivery that requires a person to travel 15 miles or more to complete the delivery. Provides that a third-party delivery service that violates the provision is subject to a business offense not to exceed $1,000. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.