Updating the West Virginia Law Institute

2025 Regular Session Introduced by J.B. Akers and 1 co-sponsor

Illinois DNR Director now appoints 12-member Petroleum Resources Board with 10 oil/gas producers, ensuring industry influence while centralizing appointments.

To Judiciary

#legislature

Purpose

Amend Section 10 of the Illinois Petroleum Education and Marketing Act to modify how members of the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board (formerly Illinois Petroleum Education and Marketing Board) are appointed. The Board's purpose remains to promote and coordinate public education, research, environmentally sound production methods, efficient energy use, development of state oil and gas resources, and support oilfield environmental remediation/restoration.

Key provisions and changes

Board composition: Continues as a 12‑member board.

New appointment authority: Beginning on the bill’s effective date, the Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shall make appointments to the Board. Previously, recent practice (since Jan 1, 2007) had appointments made by qualified producer associations; the earlier Governor-based appointments (through 2006) are superseded by current language.

Industry representation requirement: Of the 12 members, 10 must be oil and gas producers.

Director may use producer-submitted lists: The Director is explicitly authorized to base appointments on names submitted to DNR by oil and gas producers in the State.

Member qualifications and terms:

Minimum age: 25 years.
Residency: Must be an Illinois resident.
Experience: At least 5 years of active experience in the oil industry.
Term length: 3 years (initial staggered terms: four members 1 year, four members 2 years, four members 3 years).
Vacancies filled in same manner as original appointments.

Governance: Board elects a chairperson at its first meeting. First meeting called by the Governor (unchanged).

Compensation: No salary; members eligible for travel expense reimbursement only.

Regulatory oversight: Board remains subject to the Regulatory Sunset Act (statutory sunset provisions still apply).

Who is affected

Illinois Department of Natural Resources — gains statutory authority to appoint Board members (with discretion to rely on producer-submitted names).

Oil and gas producers and producer associations — retain strong influence (10 of 12 seats must be producers; may submit names), but lose exclusive appointment authority.

Stakeholders in oil & gas education, remediation, and marketing programs — governance changes could affect Board priorities, membership diversity, and oversight.

Procedural/timing notes

The statutory section amended was previously noted as scheduled for repeal (the source shows a scheduled repeal date of January 1, 2028); the amendment takes effect immediately upon the act becoming law.

The act’s timeline in 2025: introduced early February, passed both chambers in mid‑April, and signed by the Governor on April 18, 2025.

Potential impacts (practical effect)

Centralizes formal appointment authority with the executive branch (DNR Director), while preserving strong industry representation and the practical ability for producers to nominate candidates.

May increase administrative oversight or alignment of Board membership with state policy priorities, while still maintaining industry expertise on the Board.

No direct fiscal impact on member compensation (only travel reimbursement authorized).

Bill