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SB 1680

TRANSPORTATION-GREENHOUSE GAS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Omar Aquino and 4 co-sponsors

Illinois Transportation Choices Act requires state and regional planners to analyze and reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions, using a social cost of carbon and equity sco

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Bill Summary · SB 1680

Summary — SB 1680 (Transportation / Greenhouse Gas) — “Transportation Choices Act”

Note on materials provided
- The packet you supplied appears to include text from two different bills both labeled “SB 1680”: (1) an Arizona education bill amending ARS §15‑2404 (empowerment scholarship accounts / tuition increase limit), and (2) an Illinois transportation bill titled the Transportation Choices Act addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector. The summary below focuses on the Illinois Transportation Choices Act (the greenhouse‑gas provisions), followed by a brief note on the Arizona ESA provision that was also included.

Purpose and intent

The Transportation Choices Act directs state-level transportation planning entities to explicitly measure, plan for, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. It aims to align metropolitan planning and Department of Transportation (DOT) decisions with statewide GHG targets, to incorporate a social cost of carbon into planning, require equity analyses for large projects, increase public participation, and produce periodic reporting and recommendations to support legislative action.

Key provisions and requirements

  • Name: Transportation Choices Act (adds 20 ILCS 2705/2705‑204).
  • State GHG targets: By January 1, 2027 the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), after consulting the DOT and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), must establish a schedule of GHG targets for transportation-sector emissions in the State.
  • Emissions analysis: DOT and MPOs must perform greenhouse‑gas emissions analyses and determine whether their applicable planning documents will meet the IEPA targets. A GHG analysis is required before including any roadway capacity expansion project in planning documents.
  • Project applicability: The statute’s requirements begin to apply to projects included in planning documents filed on or after January 1, 2028.
  • Social cost of carbon: Beginning June 30, 2026, DOT and MPOs must establish and use a social cost of carbon in planning documents and activities. The IEPA is directed to calculate a social cost of carbon and make related changes under the Environmental Protection Act.
  • Climate equity accessibility score: DOT and MPOs must calculate a climate equity accessibility score before including any project with an anticipated cost of $30,000,000 or more in a planning document (or before including a project as a GHG mitigation measure).
  • Public participation: The Department and MPOs must provide early and continuous opportunities for public participation in transportation planning.
  • Reporting and recommendations: By January 1, 2029, and every three years thereafter, the DOT must produce a comprehensive statewide report on transportation GHG reduction accomplishments and challenges and recommend any legislative actions to help meet GHG targets.
  • Working Group: Establishes a “Greenhouse Gas in Transportation Working Group” to assist with implementation (details in bill text).

Who would be affected

  • State agencies: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation.
  • Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and regional planning bodies.
  • Local governments and project sponsors proposing roadway capacity expansions or other major transportation projects.
  • Transit agencies, planners, engineering consultants, and contractors — particularly for projects ≥ $30 million.
  • Communities — especially disadvantaged or climate‑impacted communities — via increased equity and public‑engagement requirements.
  • Funding/prioritization decisions may shift toward lower‑GHG modes (transit, active transportation, compact development, mitigation).

Implementation timeline and procedural aspects

  • Key deadlines in the bill:
    • Social cost of carbon established and used: by June 30, 2026.
    • Statewide transportation GHG targets: by January 1, 2027.
    • Requirements apply to planning documents filed on or after January 1, 2028.
    • First comprehensive DOT report due: January 1, 2029; then every 3 years.
    • Climate equity score required for projects ≥ $30,000,000 before inclusion in plans.
  • Procedural status (from provided record): Introduced in Illinois on February 5, 2025 (Sen. Omar Aquino). Referred to Assignments; other committee referrals and deadlines noted in provided actions. (The materials show multiple actions and committee referrals; check the official legislative website for current status.)

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Planning burden and costs: Additional modeling, GHG analyses, social‑cost accounting, equity scoring, and expanded public engagement will increase planning complexity and costs for DOT, MPOs, and project sponsors.
  • Project selection: Some roadway capacity projects may be delayed, revised, or omitted if analyses show they would prevent meeting GHG targets or score poorly on equity/accessibility.
  • Policy leverage: The social cost of carbon and GHG targets could shift investment toward transit, active transportation, land‑use integration, and mitigation strategies.
  • Legal and coordination issues: Requires coordination among IEPA, DOT, MPOs, and may raise questions about enforcement mechanisms for GHG targets.

Brief note on Arizona text included

  • The Arizona text (amending ARS §15‑2404) would add a provision that a “qualified school may not increase tuition and related fees for qualified students at a rate that exceeds the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the previous year.” This is separate from the Illinois Transportation Choices Act and impacts Arizona private/nonpublic schools participating in Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison of current law vs. the bill’s changes;
- Extract the bill’s exact enforcement or penalty language (if any) from the full text;
- Track current committee status and latest actions on the official state legislative websites.

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

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