Environment

Creates the Wind Turbine Stewardship and Takeback Program Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2028, a wind turbine owner shall participate in a wind turbine stewardship and takeback program under which, where realistic, the wind turbine owner shall recycle wind turbine components that are not toxic after their useful life instead of disposing them in landfills. Requires wind turbine owners to file plans for the wind turbine stewardship and takeback program with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Provides that the Agency shall develop guidance for wind turbine stewardship and takeback programs established under the Act. Allows the Agency to adopt rules to implement the Act.

Commends the establishment of the Serenity Garden, located beside Duane Dean Behavioral Health Center in Kankakee, as an exemplary initiative advancing social-emotional wellness, ecological stewardship, and pollinator conservation.

Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act and the Condominium Property Act. Prohibits an association in both Acts from requiring permission before a unit owner removes Illinois designated noxious weeds and Illinois designated exotic weeds as designated by the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that any provision in the association's community instruments requiring permission is null and void.

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program in the Department of Agriculture to provide crop insurance premium discounts for cover crops. Directs the Department to award grants in specified amounts to Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Creates the Cover Crop Insurance Premium Discount Fund. Provides for requirements for the Program. Directs the Department to adopt rules.

Appropriates $10,000,000 to the Department of Agriculture from the Partners for Conservation Fund for grants to soil and water conservation districts for their ordinary and contingent administrative expenses. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions about commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.

Amends the Energy Transition Act. Provides that the Clean Jobs Workforce Hubs Network shall incorporate targeted outreach, recruitment, training, and placement services specifically for participants seeking careers within the climate, environmental, and clean energy sector. Defines "climate, environmental, and clean energy sector". Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall collect, track, and report certain information concerning the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program. Provides that the information shall be disaggregated by race, gender, geography, and equity status.

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that Department has the power to expend moneys appropriated to the Department from the Park and Conservation Fund in the State treasury for furtherance of the Department's programs or for use by the Department for the Department's normal operations and for the construction and maintenance of State owned, leased, and managed sites (rather than the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department). Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the Comptroller shall order transferred and the Treasurer shall transfer from the Park and Conservation Fund Account in the Build Illinois Fund to the Park and Conservation Fund 1/12 of $10,000,000, plus any cumulative deficiency in those transfers for prior months, for any purposes (rather than Conservation and Park purposes) as enumerated in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law or for the same purposes as specified in any other State general obligation bond Act. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the moneys deposited in the Park and Conservation Fund shall be used as provided for in Section 805-420 of the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (rather than for the development and acquisition of bike paths).

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the valuation of wind energy devices, provides that, for taxable year 2027 and thereafter, the real property cost basis is $588,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity (currently, $360,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity). In provisions concerning the valuation of solar energy systems, provides that, for taxable year 2027 and thereafter, the real property cost basis is $446,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity (currently, $218,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity). Effective immediately.

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.