SB1686
View on ILGAENVIRONMENTAL PARTICIPATION
What this bill does
Amends the Environmental Justice Act. Creates the Environmental Justice Public Participation Program. Establishes purpose and definitions. Creates the Office of Environmental Justice within the Environmental Protection Agency. Sets forth the duties of the Office. Provides that the requirements of the provisions apply to specified permitting actions within areas of environmental justice concern. Requires the Office to use environmental justice notifications to contact people located in areas of environmental justice concern, elected officials, and other interested parties to notify of a proposed permit action in that particular area of environmental justice concern. Provides that if an area is not designated as an area of environmental justice concern due to an error in the Agency's application of EJ Start, a resident of that area may make a request in writing to the Agency for reconsideration of the designation upon providing the Office census data that would otherwise demonstrate the area is an area of environmental justice concern or minority population greater than twice the statewide average. Provides that if an area is designated as an area of environmental justice concern due to an error in the Agency's application of EJ Start, a resident of that area may make a request in writing to the Agency for reconsideration of the designation upon providing the Office census data that would otherwise demonstrate that the area is not an area of environmental justice concern or minority population greater than twice the statewide average. Establishes requirements to apply to permitting transactions in areas of environmental justice concern. Requires the Agency to establish a grievance procedure. Requires the Agency to provide a report to the Commission on Environmental Justice annually regarding the status of all grievances made under the provisions.
Calculating prediction drivers...
Pipeline Progress
Current stage: Passed Committee · Last action 501 days ago · STAGNANT
How does a bill become law in Illinois?
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Introduction of Bill
A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.
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Committee Work — Hearings
The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.
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Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report
The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.
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Floor Debate
The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.
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Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber
If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.
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Gubernatorial Action
The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory. Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.
Sponsor Context
Bills sponsored by Christopher Belt advance 8% more often than the chamber average.
Public Engagement
Witness slips
22 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.
| Name | Organization | Representing | Position | Hearing committee | Hearing date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Kennedy | Self | Self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Blake Andonov | Illinois Environmental Council | Illinois Environmental Council | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Candice Goldstein | Self | Self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Catherine Mc Donald | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Cynthia Linton | Self | Climate Reality Project - Chicago Chapter | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Dany Robles | Illinois Environmental Council | Illinois Environmental Council | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Donald Oplt | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Jackie McGrath | None | Self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Kathryn Balk | NA | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Mary Elizabeth Penick | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Mary Grose | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Michael Sturino | Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association | Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Nicole Saulsberry | sierra club Illinois | Sierra Club Illinois | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Paul Berland | Self | Self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Rachel Siegel | Illinois Beaver Alliance | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Ryne Mitchell | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Sandy Crawford | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Shawn Stacey-Choinard | Self | Self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Toni Louise Oplt | self | Metro East Green Alliance | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| Toni Louise Oplt | self | self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
| William Koehl | Self | Self | Opponent | Environment and Conservation | 2025-03-20 |
Action History
8 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-04-11 — Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.
All actions (table)
| Date | Chamber | Action | Category | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-05 | Senate | Filed with Secretary bySen. Christopher Belt Rule 2-7(b) | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-02-05 | Senate | First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-02-05 | Senate | Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-02-18 | Senate | Assigned toEnvironment and Conservation Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-03-20 | Senate | Postponed -Environment and Conservation Senate Rule 3-11; House Rule 22 | Committee Action | — |
| 2025-03-21 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 4, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4) | Deadlines & Re-referrals | — |
| 2025-04-04 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 11, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4) | Deadlines & Re-referrals | — |
| 2025-04-11 | Senate | Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments Rule 3-9(a) | Deadlines & Re-referrals | Mild − |