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SB 3582

DCEO-BUSINESS ASSIST REFORM

104th Regular Session Introduced by Darby Hills and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a streamlined, tech-enabled permit system for large projects, with a shared dashboard and 2-year timelines to coordinate and accelerate environmental reviews.

Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Darby A. Hills
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Bill Summary · SB 3582

Overview

SB 3582, introduced in the Illinois 104th General Assembly, creates a streamlined, technology-enabled framework for coordinating and expediting environmental reviews and permit approvals for large-scale infrastructure projects (referred to as “covered projects”). The bill establishes an Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Assistance within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and a new Interagency Permitting Advisory Committee to improve interagency coordination, transparency, and timeliness of the permitting process.

Main purpose and intent

  • Improve the state’s business climate by making it easier to obtain necessary state permits and environmental reviews.
  • Accelerate permit issuance for covered projects while maintaining regulatory oversight.
  • Increase transparency and reduce uncertainty and costs for taxpayers, project sponsors, and agencies through online dashboards and standardized timelines.

Key provisions and changes

  • Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Assistance (Section 10)

    • Created within the Department.
    • Responsible for assisting businesses, consolidating programs, and reforming interagency coordination to expedite permits.
    • Uses information technology to track project schedules and permit-related metrics.

  • Definitions (Section 7)

    • Covered project: large-scale infrastructure projects in energy, transmission, transportation, water resources, broadband, pipelines, or manufacturing, with environmental review/authorization by a state agency and an anticipated investment over $20 million.
    • Project sponsor: entity seeking authorization for a covered project.
    • Interagency Permitting Advisory Committee: to be established by Section 25.

  • Interagency Permitting Advisory Committee (Section 25)

    • Comprises representatives from each permitting agency and ex officio members (heads of relevant agencies, including Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, ICC, Fire Marshal, and Department of Public Health).

  • Permitting process improvement and dashboards (Section 30)

    • Project initiation: project sponsors must notify the office with details about purpose, location, financials, anticipated financing/authorizations, and a determination of whether the project qualifies as a covered project.
    • Cooperating agencies: invited to participate; they become cooperating agencies unless they opt out (with potential re-designation on request).
    • Permitting Dashboard: an online dashboard to track environmental reviews and authorizations, including links to applications, documents, decisions, and related litigation. Agencies must post timely information; the dashboard is maintained with input from the office and cooperating agencies.
    • Coordinated project plan: within 60 days of entry on the Dashboard, a coordinated plan is drafted, outlining roles, timelines, potential mitigation strategies, and public outreach plans; updates occur at least quarterly.
    • Permitting timetable: establishes intermediate/final dates for agency actions with a goal of completing all required authorizations within 2 years, subject to factors like project size, resources, and regional impact.
    • Modifications and dispute resolution: provides mechanisms to modify timetables, mediate disputes, and, if unresolved, involve the Governor’s Budget Office (not subject to judicial review). Restrictions on extensions and accountability measures are included.
    • Local government coordination: eligible local governments may participate to align local reviews with state processes.

  • Additional responsibilities (Sec. 15, 5, 7, 10)

    • Online information system and basic business kit; aid in scheduling, hearings, data consolidation, and interagency coordination.
    • Annual reporting and performance metrics on permit assistance activities (due by March 1 each year, following required historical data).

Who would be affected

  • State agencies involved in environmental reviews and permitting (e.g., EPA, DOT, Natural Resources, Commerce/ECON, Fire Marshal, Public Health, ICC).
  • Project sponsors seeking authorization for covered projects.
  • Local governments that participate in the environmental review process.
  • Illinois businesses seeking streamlined access to state permitting information and timelines.

Timelines and procedural notes

  • Dashboard and coordinated plan timelines: required within 60 days of project entry; updates quarterly.
  • Permitting timetable: target completion within 2 years, with staggered dates for agency actions.
  • Modifications and dispute resolution processes include specific timelines (e.g., 30-day dispute resolution window, and MBBO involvement if unresolved).
  • Annual reporting deadline: March 1 each year.

Note: The bill specifies that all provisions are subject to appropriation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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