SB3026

View on ILGA

GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT

What this bill does

Amends the Water Use Act of 1983. Provides that the findings concerning a proposed point of withdrawal's effects upon other users of water shall be published on a publicly available website. Provides that each District within any county in Illinois with a population in excess of 10,000 (rather than each district within any county in Illinois with a population in excess of 100,000 through which the Mackinaw River flows) is authorized to recommend to the Department of Agriculture restrictions on groundwater withdrawals. Provides that, if an onsite investigation discloses (1) that the point of withdrawal fails to furnish its normal supply of water, (2) that the failure is caused by a substantial lowering of the level of groundwater in the area, and (3) that the point of withdrawal and its equipment conform to the recommended guidelines of the District issued under subsection (b), the District shall (rather than may) recommend to the Department of Agriculture that the Department restrict the quantity of water that a person may extract from any high-capacity well within the District's boundaries. Provides that the restrictions may be lifted or modified as soon as justified by changed conditions (rather than shall be lifted as soon as justified by changed conditions). Provides that when a District determines that restriction of the withdrawal of water at a particular point within the District is necessary to preserve an adequate water supply for all residents in the District, the District shall (rather than may) recommend to the Department of Agriculture that the Department restrict the quantity of water that may be extracted from any point of withdrawal within the District which is a high-capacity well. Provides that, if the Department disagrees with the District's recommendation, the Department shall (rather than may) propose an alternate recommendation.

Sponsor: Mike Simmons Chamber: Senate Introduced: 2026-01-29
Stuck
P(Advance)
9.6%
Chance it ever reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
0.0%
Chance it becomes law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Confidence: 90% FORECAST

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 58 days ago · PENDING

How does a bill become law in Illinois?
  1. 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.

  2. Committee Work — Hearings

    The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.

  3. Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report

    The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.

  4. Floor Debate

    The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.

  5. 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.

  6. 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

Hearings

This bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing.

Witness slips

2 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.

Name Organization Representing Position Hearing committee Hearing date
Eric Poorman self self Proponent Environment and Conservation 2026-02-19
Nathan Roberts Self Proponent Environment and Conservation 2026-02-19

Action History

4 actions recorded. Last action: 2026-02-10 — Assigned toEnvironment and Conservation. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2026-01-29 Introduction & Filing
Filed with Secretary bySen. Mike Simmons Rule 2-7(b)
Bill officially submitted to the Senate Secretary during the session.
2026-01-29 Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2026-01-29 Committee Assignment
Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2026-02-10 Committee Assignment
Assigned toEnvironment and Conservation Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2026-01-29 Senate Filed with Secretary bySen. Mike Simmons Rule 2-7(b) Introduction & Filing
2026-01-29 Senate First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing
2026-01-29 Senate Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment
2026-02-10 Senate Assigned toEnvironment and Conservation Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment