A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, continues.

Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.

The State Senate meets on the third floor of the north side of the Illinois State Capitol.

However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.

A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, follows.

Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.

However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.

Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.

Energy/Utilities

 Water Rate Hikes (HB 576/PA 98-0191):  Spells out notice requirements for water and sewer utilities with greater than 15,000 total customers when a rate hike occurs.

 Electric Aggregation (HB 1745/PA-0404): Makes it clear that County electric aggregation only applies to unincorporated areas and does not apply to city areas that have already adopted aggregation via referendum. This was the intent of the original law in 2009 (HB 722/PA 96-176).

 Utility Market Settlement Services (SB 105/ PA 98-0554): Creates new Market Settlement Services for electric utilities with rules and regulations that allow an electric utility to provide unbundled power to  large retail customers (400 KW or over) that are not served by that electric utility. An electric utility (ComEd or Ameren) providing a Market Settlement Service shall be permitted to recover its reasonable and prudent initial implementation and start-up costs from these customers. The measure includes a settlement agreement between RESA (Retail Energy Suppliers Association) and ComEd from a ComEd rate case in which ComEd agreed to reform its cancel/re-bill procedure. ComEd believes it needs statutory authority to effectuate these changes.

Exelon Decision Cleanup (SB 2243/PA 98-0583): This would return the treatment of electricity, water, and gas and their producers to the pre-Exelon decision status quo and not subject electricity, water, and gas to the imposition of sales tax.

Environment

 Composting Pilot Permits (SB 850/PA 98-0146): Allows the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to issue an 18 month pilot permit to two waste transfer stations in Elgin and Stickney to allow them to accept landscape materials and food scrap for composting.

 EPA Permits (HB 2036/PA 98-0237): Requires the Illinois Environmental Protection Act (IEPA), by January 1, 2014, to maintain permit-related information on its website, including a yearly report detailing the number of permits received and issued by IEPA, and the average number of days for permit issuance.

 Asphalt Shingle Recycling (SB 1925/PA 98-0296): Allows the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to revoke Beneficial Use Determination permits for unlawful asphalt shingle recycling practices. Beneficial Use Determinations are permits authorized by the IEPA that allow waste materials to be recycled or otherwise used in a way that is beneficial to health and the environment.

Littering Fine (HB 3081/PA-0472): Amends the Litter Control Act to add a minimum fine of $50 for littering.

Cigarettes = Litter (HB 3243/PA 98-0483): Includes cigarettes in the definition of “litter,” so people could be fined for inappropriately disposing of their cigarette butts.

Disposal of Asphalt Roofing Shingles (SB 2226/PA 98-0542): States landfills cannot accept for disposal load of whole or processed asphalt roofing shingles (unless commingled with other construction material) if they are located within a 25 mile radius of an asphalt shingle recycling center. Additionally, requires the recycling centers to submit reports on the amounts of shingles received in a calendar year to the EPA.  Landfills are neutral on the amendment.