NW Illinois News

Tony M. McCombie introduced HB1546 in the Illinois House on Jan. 21, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding greenhouse gases, extends deadlines by 5 years for reduced or zero carbon dioxide equivalent and copollutant emissions by certain electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal as a fuel."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Environmental Protection Act by extending deadlines for electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal as fuel to achieve reduced or zero carbon dioxide equivalent and copollutant emissions by five years. Specific requirements are outlined for various types of units, including those using coal, oil, or gas, with differentiated timelines for achieving zero emissions based on factors such as proximity to environmental justice communities and emission rates. Key deadlines for different categories range from January 1, 2030, to December 31, 2050. Additionally, starting in 2025, annual and five-year reports will track emissions and state progress toward environmental goals. The bill specifies that variances or regulatory relief cannot be granted concerning emissions reduction obligations, and plans to address potential resource adequacy shortfalls must consider emissions impact on environmental justice communities.

Tony M. McCombie has proposed another seven bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

McCombie graduated from Western Illinois University in 1996 with a BA.

Tony M. McCombie is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 89th House District. He replaced previous state representative Andrew Chesney in 2023.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1546	01/21/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding greenhouse gases, extends deadlines by 5 years for reduced or zero carbon dioxide equivalent and copollutant emissions by certain electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal as a fuel.
HB1539	01/21/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity an Illinois driver's license or an Illinois Identification Card. Provides that a person who claims to be a registered voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot if the voter fails to provide the required Illinois driver's license or Illinois Identification Card. Provides that a provisional voter has 7 days to provide the county clerk or board of election commissioners with the provisional voter's Illinois driver's license or Illinois Identification Card. Effective immediately.
HB1540	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that any person, other than the person for whom a Schedule II controlled substance is prescribed, who receives the prescribed Schedule II controlled substance at a pharmacy shall provide: (1) identifying information of the person for whom the controlled substance is prescribed; and (2) photo identification given to the pharmacy, which shall keep a photo copy in the file of the person for whom the controlled substance is prescribed for a period of 90 days.
HB1541	01/21/2025	Amends Public Act 103-589. Appropriates $25,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for the Home Delivered Meals Program. Changes the amount appropriated to the Department of Human Services for Illinois Welcoming Centers to $114,400,000 (rather than $139,400,000). Effective immediately.
HB1542	01/21/2025	Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" means an individual who (i) meets the definition of "employee" in specified provisions of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act and (ii) works at least 195 hours for an employer over a period of at least 90 days.
HB1543	01/21/2025	Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" means an individual who (i) meets the definition of "employee" in specified provisions of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act and (ii) works at least 130 hours for an employer over a period of at least 90 days.
HB1544	01/21/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding greenhouse gases, extends deadlines by 5 years for reduced or zero carbon dioxide equivalent and copollutant emissions by certain electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units.
HB1545	01/21/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. In a provision regarding greenhouse gases, extends deadlines by 10 years for reduced or zero carbon dioxide equivalent and copollutant emissions by certain electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units.
HB1547	01/21/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Extends deadlines for reduced or zero carbon dioxide emissions by 10 years for certain EGUs and large greenhouse gas-emitting units.
HB1548	01/21/2025	Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, shall develop standards and guidelines to prohibit any Illinois ratepayer funds from being used by the Agency for the procurement under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan of solar panels that are not manufactured or assembled by a company located in North America.
HB1549	01/21/2025	Amends the Invest in Illinois Act. Provides that certain notices under the Act shall also be sent to the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Provides that the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives may also object to agreements under the Act. Effective immediately.
HB1550	01/21/2025	Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that aggravated battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, includes a battery committed by a person who, at the time of the commission of the offense, is 21 years of age or older and the battery was committed upon an individual whom the person committing the offense knows to be a person working under the Adult Protective Services Program or an Ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, or a Department of Children and Family Services employee: (1) performing his or her official duties; (2) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (3) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, a violation is a Class 1 felony. Defines "Department of Children and Family Services employee" and "ombudsman".
HB1551	01/21/2025	Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Knight-Silas Act. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery, other than by the discharge of a firearm, he or she: (1) knowingly causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee; and (2) is, at the time of the commission of the offense, 21 years of age or older and causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual whom the person knows to be a Department of Children and Family Services employee: (i) performing his or her official duties; (ii) battered to prevent performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) battered in retaliation for performing his or her official duties. Provides that "Department of Children and Family Services employee" includes any (i) Department caseworker or (ii) investigator employed by an agency or organization providing social work, case work, or investigative services under a contract with or a grant from the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Provides that if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to the employee, the penalty is a Class 1 felony.
HB1552	01/21/2025	Creates the School District Impact Note Act. Requires every bill that could have a negative impact on the finances of a school district in the State or that could cause a school district to expend additional staffing resources to have prepared for it by the Illinois State Board of Education a brief explanatory statement or note describing the bill's anticipated impact on education in the State. Specifies the contents of the note and the circumstances under which the note is to be prepared. Clarifies that the preparation of such a note does not preclude a State official or employee from participating in legislative hearings concerning the bill. Provides that the subject matter of bills submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education shall be kept in strict confidence, and no information relating to the bill or its anticipated impact on education in the State shall be divulged, before the bill's introduction in the General Assembly, by any State official or employee of the State Board, except to the bill's sponsor or his or her designee. Effective immediately.
HB1553	01/21/2025	Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning holidays, provides that a school board or other entity eligible to apply for waivers and modifications under the Code is authorized to hold school or schedule teachers' institutes, parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on November 3, 2026 (2026 General Election Day) if certain conditions are met. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1554	01/21/2025	Amends the Election Code. Prohibits a political committee from making certain expenditures to provide a defense in any criminal case or a defense in a civil case against any claims that a person has committed misconduct in his or her capacity as a public official, any claims of sexual harassment, or any claims of discrimination. Requires that a person found to have used campaign contributions in violation of the Code shall return contributions to the contributor or pay to the State if the contributor cannot be identified or reimbursed. Requires the political committee to include information on the contributions returned to the contributor or paid to the State in the committee's quarterly report to the State Board of Elections.