# Illinois SB1686: ENVIRONMENTAL PARTICIPATION

Illinois SB1686, ENVIRONMENTAL PARTICIPATION, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Christopher Belt (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-04-11 (Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1686-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois SB1686
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: ENVIRONMENTAL PARTICIPATION
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-05
- Last action: 2025-04-11, Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
- Sponsor: Christopher Belt (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: assignments, environment and conservation
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Christopher Belt (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (8)

- 2025-04-11: Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 11, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 4, 2025 (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Postponed - Environment and Conservation (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Assigned to Environment and Conservation (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: First Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Filed with Secretary by Sen. Christopher Belt (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1686.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB1686.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1686-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).