Bill
HB 3691
HB 3691 mandates mandatory radon testing, reporting, and mitigation in Illinois K-12 schools, with licensed professionals, initial tests by 2029 and retests every 5 years.
Status and timing
- Bill: HB 3691 (amends Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10‑20.48 and 5/34‑18.39)
- Filed/introduced early 2025 (bill text lists sponsors and an introduction date in Feb. 2025; legislative actions record activity through 2025‑06‑28).
- Current status: In committee upon adjournment (last action: left pending after public hearing on 2025‑05‑08).
Purpose
- To protect students, teachers, staff and visitors from radioactive radon in K–12 school buildings by making radon testing, reporting, and mitigation requirements mandatory and providing related implementation details.
Key provisions and changes
- Mandatory testing schedule: Every school building that is occupied or will be occupied must be tested for radon by January 1, 2029, and retested every 5 years thereafter (changes prior language that only “recommended” testing).
- New construction: New school buildings must be constructed using radon‑resistant new construction techniques consistent with the ANSI/AARST CC‑1000 (Soil Gas Control Systems in New Construction of Multifamily, School, Commercial and Mixed‑Use Buildings) or successor standard (replaces prior EPA‑style recommendation).
- Licensed testing and mitigation:
- Removes an allowance for unlicensed individuals to perform screening tests. Test kits must be supplied by a laboratory licensed under the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
- If a screening result is ≥ 4.0 pCi/L, the district shall obtain confirmatory measurements by a licensed radon professional. If confirmatory measurements verify ≥ 4.0 pCi/L, affected areas shall be mitigated within 2 years by a licensed radon mitigation professional (unless the building will be decommissioned within 2 years and documentation is provided).
- After mitigation, the system must be tested and modified as necessary until radon levels are below 4.0 pCi/L.
- District employees may attend an IEMA‑OHS‑approved school testing course and perform measurements only where IEMA grants an exemption; otherwise a licensed professional must be used.
- Reporting and transparency: Districts must maintain and make public test results, notify parents and faculty, and report results to the State Board of Education (SBE). The SBE will compile and submit a statewide report every two years to the General Assembly and Governor.
- Funding: School districts may use life safety funds, if available, for testing and mitigation.
- Preemption: Home rule units may not adopt regulations that diminish the protections in the statute.
Who would be affected
- Primary: public school districts, school administrators, students, staff and school visitors.
- Secondary: licensed radon testing and mitigation professionals, IEMA/OHS, State Board of Education, laboratories that supply licensed test kits.
- Financially: districts face testing and potential mitigation costs; life safety funds are an available resource.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Public‑health benefit: reduced radon exposure risk in schools.
- Fiscal impact: costs for testing, licensed professionals, and mitigation could be substantial for some districts; requirement to use licensed professionals and meet ANSI/AARST standards may increase costs but standardizes quality.
- Implementation timeline: districts must complete initial testing by Jan 1, 2029, then every 5 years; mitigation deadlines and reporting obligations impose operational timelines on districts.
References
- Radon action level used in the bill: 4.0 pCi/L (consistent with federal EPA action level).
- Construction standard: ANSI/AARST CC‑1000 (or successor).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
