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SB 3362

MAKE POLLUTERS PAY ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mike Simmons-Gessesse

SB 3362 would establish a polluter-pay framework that imposes fees or penalties on polluting activities to fund environmental cleanup, remediation, and enforcement.

Referred to Assignments
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 3362

Bill overview

  • Legislature: Illinois, 104th General Assembly
  • Session: 104th
  • Bill number: SB 3362
  • Title: MAKE POLLUTERS PAY ACT
  • Status: Filed and referred (as of 2026-02-04)
  • Primary sponsor: Sen. Mike Simmons
  • Co-sponsor: Senator Simmons-Gessesse

Purpose and intent

SB 3362 is framed as a “Make Polluters Pay” act. While the available action history does not include text of the bill, the title signals an objective to shift pollution-related costs onto polluters. The bill is introduced to establish mechanisms—likely regulatory or financial—for ensuring that entities whose activities cause environmental pollution bear the costs of prevention, cleanup, and related damages, rather than spreading those costs to the public or general taxpayers.

Key provisions and changes (conceptual overview)

Note: The exact statutory language is not provided in the summary you supplied. Based on the title and common legislative approaches for “Polluters Pay” policies, anticipated provisions may include:

  • Establishment of a polluter-pay liability framework: defining who qualifies as a polluter (e.g., industrial facilities, operators of certain emissions sources, or entities responsible for contamination).
  • Fee or tax mechanisms: creating environmental fees, surcharges, or penalties assessed on polluting activities or facilities, with revenues dedicated to environmental cleanup, restoration, and enforcement.
  • Funding for cleanup and remediation: directing collected funds to state environmental programs, emergency response, and pollution remediation projects.
  • Liability standards and enforcement: setting criteria for when liability applies, potential caps or credits, and enforcement procedures (civil penalties, fines, and penalties for noncompliance).
  • Reporting and transparency: requiring facilities to report emissions, spills, or discharges; public access to summarized data.
  • Planning and timelines: establishing effective dates, phased implementation, and potential sunset or review provisions.

If enacted, the bill could also include:

  • Allocation of funds to state environmental justice initiatives or disproportionately impacted communities.
  • Provisions to address specific pollution streams (air, water, soil, hazardous waste) with tailored funding and enforcement.
  • Incentives or credits for pollution reduction, cleanup milestones, or deployment of green technologies.

Who would be affected

  • Polluting entities: industries and facilities whose activities emit pollutants, discharge waste, or otherwise contribute to environmental contamination. They would face new financial obligations or expanded liability.
  • State environmental agencies: responsible for administering the new fees, managing funds, monitoring compliance, and enforcing requirements.
  • Taxpayers and consumers: depending on the structure, the policy aims to reduce general public costs by ensuring polluters pay; in practice, some costs could be passed through if not fully offset by revenue collections and incentives.
  • Affected communities: potential benefits include faster or more comprehensive cleanup efforts and improved environmental justice outcomes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction: Filed with the Secretary on 2026-02-04.
  • First Reading: 2026-02-04.
  • Referred to Assignments: 2026-02-04 (the committee assignment determines next steps, potential hearings, amendments, and passage timeline).
  • Next steps (typical): committee consideration, potential amendments, floor debate, and votes in the Senate, followed by progression to the House if applicable. Timelines depend on committee schedules and legislative priorities.

Additional considerations for readers

  • Fiscal impact: The act would create new revenue mechanisms tied to polluting activities; the net effect on state finances would depend on the design of fees, exemptions, and collection efficiency.
  • Environmental impact: Potential improvement in environmental cleanup funding, faster remediation, and enhanced accountability for polluters.
  • Equity considerations: Many “polluters-pay” policies include environmental justice components to address communities disproportionately affected by pollution; readers should review the bill text for any targeted provisions.
  • Interplay with existing laws: The bill would interact with current environmental, tax, and liability frameworks; details on preemption, exemptions, and enforcement authority are crucial for assessing scope.

If you can share the bill’s full text or specific sections, I can provide a more precise and detailed section-by-section summary, including exact provisions, definitions, percentages, dates, and fiscal estimates.

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

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