the process, making it clear that while the Agency’s proposal was considerably better than anything offered by 
the activists up to this point, there were still significant concerns with the language as drafted.  This issue will 
likely continue into the summer with further discussions with the Agency.
Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Chamber staff continued to participate in Senator Koehler’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard workgroup meetings 
throughout the quarter and will continue to do so during the summer.  The Senator has scheduled these meet-
ings to gather feedback on a host of issues, which he hopes will enable his staff to have a new draft for stake-
holders to consider by mid-summer. The Senator has targeted veto session for making another legislative 
push.
Isolated Wetlands
Chamber staff worked with its partners to push back on unreasonable regulation of what are commonly re-
ferred to as “isolated wetlands” during the fall veto session.  We were successful in slowing that legislation last 
fall, but advocates promised a renewed push this spring.  By continuing to work with our partners and meeting 
this spring with state regulators who would be tasked with implementing these broad limitations, the Chamber 
was able to generate enough opposition within the General Assembly to stall the proposal this session.  Fur-
ther, the Chamber drafted alternative language that would first require a study to determine what the poten-
tial impacts of the advocates’ poorly defined proposal would be, both in cost to implement but also in number 
of isolated wetlands that would be covered – giving legislators an alternative approach should the issue be 
raised later this fall or next spring.
Environmental Penalties
One issue that gives Chamber staff great concern is an issue that was slipped into the revenue bill on the very 
last day of session.  Tucked away in the 1300 pages of House Bill 2755 (Tarver/Villanueva), beginning on page 
139, is language that would double the maximum penalties authorized by the Illinois Environmental Protection 
Act.  Among other changes found in the bill, the revenue legislation would double the penalty. Any person is 
liable for violating the Act from $50,000 to $100,000 and increases the per day penalty from $10,000 to $25,000.  
Certainly, it is an interesting way to obtain revenue for the State.
8 | END OF SESSION REPORT

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