Illinois Chapter Lobby Efforts

 By Linda Sullivan

This year, Illinois Sierra Club Lobby Team members brushed aside discouragement at the national situation and charged ahead, meeting with their state legislators as they have every year, working to pass environmental laws through the General Assembly.

Jeff Gahris and Linda Sullivan with
Rep. Terra Costa Howard

In Illinois we are moving ahead on the environment!

Many thanks to the River Prairie Group Lobby Team members who met in-district with their legislators on the bills listed below. And a huge thank you to the legislators who stuck their necks out to cosponsor our bills!

The following bills were chosen by the Illinois Sierra Club Conservation Committee as most important to lobby on. Our lobbyists asked the legislators to cosponsor the bills, meaning that their names would show on the General Assembly website as sponsors (and take flak from industry lobbyists). We have listed those who cosponsored. It should be noted that just because a legislator chose not to cosponsor, that does not mean they will or have voted against the bills. 

At the time we went to press, this is where things stand:

Disposable Food Service Containers Act (polystyrene ban), SB 1531 (Fine)

This bill seeks to limit the amount of PFAS also known as “forever chemicals” consumed by Illinoisians through disposable Styrofoam and plastic. Prohibits sale/distribution in Illinois of disposable food service containers composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam beginning January 1, 2030. 

Update: This bill passed the Illinois Senate, but is still waiting for a vote in the House.

Legislators in the River Prairie Group area cosponsors:

Illinois Senate: Laura Ellman, Karina Villa, Rachel Ventura 

Illinois House: Diane Blair Sherlock, Terra Costa Howard, Anne Stava Murray, Janet Yang Rohr, Martha Deuter 

Mahomet Aquifer Protection, SB 1723 (Faraci) and HB 3614 (Ammons)

The Mahomet Aquifer is designated a sole source aquifer, meaning the contamination of the aquifer would create a significant hazard to public health, and there are no available alternative sources of drinking water to serve the population that relies on the aquifer. Ban carbon sequestration through and under the Mahomet Aquifer and its recharge areas and protect drinking water for Central Illinois.

Update: This bill passed both Houses and is expected to be signed by the Governor!  Hooray!

Legislators in RPG area who cosponsored:

Illinois Senate:  Karina Villa, Rachel Ventura, Suzy Glowiak Hilton

Illinois House: Diane Blair Sherlock, Anne Stava Murray, Dagmar Avilar, Maura Hirschauer, Janet Yang Rohr, Martha Deuter, Stephanie Kifowit

 

Clean and Reliable Grid Act (CRGA), HB 3779 (A. Williams) and SB 2473 (Cunningham)

Seeks to strengthen energy efficiency including increasing electric and gas utilities’ minimum spending on low-income efficiency programs, prioritizes clean energy resources, promotes transmission improvements to strengthen the power grid, and supports transparent energy planning and modeling to strengthen our energy policymaking, support the implementation of CEJA, and right-size our clean energy procurement targets to meet our energy needs.

Update: Changes every day! At this time, the bill is in committee.

RPG legislators who cosponsored:

Illinois House: Anne Stava Murray, Terra Costa Howard

 

Clean and Healthy Buildings Act, SB2269 (Villanueva) and HB3525 (A. Williams)

Reducing buildings emissions is important for and beneficial to our state’s climate, as well as the individual health and finances of every Illinoisan. The Clean and Healthy Buildings Act modernizes new buildings first and then existing ones to run on clean electricity, replacing gas burners and stoves with safer, more efficient heat pumps and electric appliances.

Update: This bill is not expected to move until at least next year.

RPG area legislators who cosponsored:

Senate: Rachel Ventura

House: Anne Stava Murray, Terra Costa Howard

 

Transportation Choices Act (TCA), SB 1680 (Aquino)/HB2629 (Canty)

Transportation is now the largest source of carbon emissions, and the only one that is increasing. As part of comprehensive legislation to fund and reform mass transit, we must also take steps to reduce carbon emissions over time from this large source of pollution. The Transportation Choices Act would set gradual emissions reduction targets for transportation spending, to ensure we are achieving cleaner air and providing more balanced funding to all modes of travel, including transit, bicycle facilities, and safe pedestrian routes.

Update: In committee

RPG area cosponsors:

Senate: Rachel Ventura

House: Anne Stava Murray

 

You can get the final outcome of these bills and exact votes at https://ilga.gov/