Sponsor: Mary E. Flowers
IRWA Position: Neutral
IRWA Quick Take: As introduced, this bill would only apply to the City of Chicago and schools within that city. IRWA is taking a neutral position on this legislation.
IRWA Legislative Watch - House Bills
Synopsis As Introduced: Creates the Lead in Schools Reporting Act. Provides that on an annual basis the Department of Public Health, in coordination with local departments of public health serving the City of Chicago, shall conduct specified lead testing at public school facilities within the City. Provides that the results from such testing shall be transmitted to the State Board of Education. Provides that the Department shall notify the State Board if a detected lead level meets a level that the Department deems unsafe. Amends the School Code. Provides that the school report cards for the Chicago school district shall include lead testing results and that students in the district may transfer from one attendance center to another attendance center within or outside of the district if any lead levels at his or her current attendance center meet a level that the Department deems unsafe. Makes other changes to the provisions concerning transfers.
Synopsis As Introduced: Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning procedures for a large public utility to acquire a water or sewer utility, provides that if the water or sewer utility being acquired is owned by the State or a political subdivision of the State, a referendum will be required to approve the acquisition of the water or sewer utility by the large public utility (rather than only requiring a public meeting and publication of the terms of acquisition in a newspaper of general circulation in the area that the water or sewer utility operates). Effective immediately.
Sponsor: Thaddeus Jones
IRWA Position: Neutral
IRWA Quick Take:As introduced, this bill would require any water or sewer utility owned by a governmental agency interested in selling their system(s) be required to pass a referendum approving the sale. IRWA will be in support of this bill.
Synopsis As Introduced: Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility that provides both water and wastewater services may request in a general rate case proceeding that the Illinois Commerce Commission allocate a portion of the public utility's wastewater service revenue requirement for recovery through water service base rates, allocate a portion of the public utility's water service revenue requirement through wastewater base rates, or for the combination of that public utility's water service and wastewater service revenue requirements. Provides that as part of any proceeding, the public utility shall present evidence to establish, and the Commission shall consider, specified factors. Provides that if the Commission finds that an allocation or combination is in the public interest, the Commission shall enter an order approving such allocation or combination of the public utility's water and wastewater service revenue. Provides that the water service revenue requirement or wastewater service revenue requirement may not be increased by more than 3.5% through an allocation from the water service revenue requirement or wastewater service revenue requirement. Effective immediately.
Sponsor: Jay Hoffman
IRWA Position: Neutral
IRWA Quick Take – As this bill only pertains to investor-owned utilities, IRWA will be taking a neutral position.
Synopsis As Introduced:Amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Makes various changes to the definitions. Provides that owners or operators of underground utility facilities are required to be members of the One-Call Notice system (rather than the State-Wide One-Call Notice System). Provides that if, upon notice from the One-Call Notice system, an underground utility facility owner or operator determines there is a critical underground utility facility within the proposed excavation area and the underground utility facility owner or operator desires to have an authorized representative present during excavation near the critical underground utility facility, the underground utility facility owner or operator shall contact the excavator prior to the dig start date and time provided on the notice to schedule a date and time for the underground utility facility owner or operator to be present when excavation will occur near the critical underground utility facility. Provides for the following: a positive response system; a planning design notification; and a joint meet notification. Requires geographic information system data to be provided to the One-Call Notice system. Makes changes in provisions concerning: required activities; emergency excavation or demolition; damage or dislocation; liability or financial responsibility; negligence; record of notice and marking of facilities; penalties, liability, and fund; emergency telephone system outages and reimbursement; noncompliance and enforcement action time frames; mandamus or injunction; and home rule. Provides that if any previously unmarked underground utility facility is exposed during excavation or demolition, emergency or nonemergency, the excavator responsible for excavation or demolition operations shall immediately notify the One-Call Notice System. Repeals the definition of "person" and a provision concerning notice of preconstruction conference. Makes technical and other changes.
Sponsor: Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.
Bill Status HB2263
IRWA Position: Support
IRWA Quick Take – As this bill will better protect underground utilities, IRWA will be supporting this legislation.
Synopsis As Introduced: Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Extends the date that the Municipal Water and Wastewater Funding Study Committee is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly to September 30, 2023 (from January 31, 2023). Effective immediately.
Sponsor: Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.
IRWA Position: Support
IRWA Quick Take: This bill will extend the Municipal Water and Wastewater Funding Study Committee’s deadline to report its findings on rates until September 30, 2023. IRWA will be in support of this legislation.
Synopsis As Introduced: Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning water and sewer surcharges, removes language allowing the Illinois Commerce Commission to authorize a water or sewer utility to file a surcharge which adjusts rates and charges to provide for recovery of costs associated with an investment in qualifying infrastructure plant. Makes a corresponding change.
Sponsor: Dagmara Avelar
IRWA Position: Neutral
IRWA Quick Take: This bill will only affect investor owned utilities and IRWA will stand neutral.
Synopsis As Introduced: Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that an owner or operator of a community water supply must (rather than may) provide a consumer notice by email (if an email address is available) when replacing a lead service line or repairing or replacing water mains with lead service lines or partial lead service lines attached to them. Requires a municipality with a population in excess of 1,000,000 inhabitants to publicly post on its website, data related to the progress it has made in installing publicly funded lead service lines. Amends the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act. Requires the seller to disclose on the real estate disclosure form any discovered concentration of or unsafe conditions relating to lead paint, lead water pipes, lead plumbing pipes or lead in the soil on the premises (rather than unsafe concentrations of or unsafe conditions relating to lead paint, lead water pipes, lead plumbing pipes or lead in the soil on the premises).
Sponsor: Hoan Huynh
Bill Status HB2776
IRWA Position:Neutral
IRWA Quick Take: IRWA Quick Take: Lead service line replacement notifications are currently required, adding electronic notifications may serve as a benefit for some systems and as a burden to others. IRWA will remain neutral on the bill as introduced.
Synopsis As Introduced: Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the filing fees for specified petitions shall be $250 (rather than $75).
Sponsor: Ann M Williams
Bill Status HB3426
IRWA Position: Neutral
IRWA Quick Take: Increasing filing fees to $250 should not be a burden to systems. However, IRWA will remain neutral on this bill for now.
Synopsis As Introduced: Amends the PFAS Reduction Act. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the PFAS Pathways Act. Contains legislative findings. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) require select wastewater treatment plants' to report the results of analysis of raw influent sewage, treated sewage effluent, and sewage sludge residuals for PFAS; (2) produce and publish on the Agency's website a report on the eventual dispersion of PFAS through the treatment process; and (3) review the Agency's database of wastewater treatment plants, determine methods of processed sewage sludge disposal, and estimate the annual quantities of processed sewage sludge disposal on land, whether or not it is disposed of in-state or out-of-state. Requires the Prairie Research Institute's Illinois Sustainable Technology Center to: (1) review the list of contaminants of emerging concern in a specified report and determine what other chemical compounds have an environmental impact similar to PFAS; (2) determine appropriate methods for destroying PFAS; and (3) estimate the financial impact on wastewater treatment plants in this State from the methods for destroying PFAS. Allows the Agency to propose, and the Pollution Control Board to adopt, rules establishing maximum concentrations of PFAS that may be contained in an Exceptional Quality biosolid or sewage sludge that is to be applied to land. Makes a conforming change in the Environmental Protection Act.
Sponsor: Robyn Gabel
Bill Status HB3508
IRWA Position: Oppose
IRWA Quick Take:Although there may be some good aspects of this legislation there exists a number of concerns and as such, IRWA will be in opposition of this bill.
