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Dale Fowler introduced SB0157 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 17, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, no person may knowingly cause or allow the mixing of a photovoltaic module with municipal waste that is intended for disposal at a landfill. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, no person may knowingly cause or allow the disposal of a photovoltaic module in a sanitary landfill. Defines "consumer electronic device" and "photovoltaic module". Effective January 1, 2027."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Environmental Protection Act to prohibit, starting Jan. 1, 2028, the mixing or disposal of photovoltaic modules, which are defined as assemblies of photovoltaic cells intended for generating electrical power, with municipal waste meant for landfill or in sanitary landfills. Photovoltaic modules include components used in various settings, such as freestanding off-grid systems, buildings, or grid-connected systems, but exclude those in consumer electronic devices. The effective date of this prohibition is Jan. 1, 2027, to allow for preparation and compliance.

Dale Fowler has proposed another two bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Dale Fowler is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 59th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Gary Forby in 2017.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB0157	01/17/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, no person may knowingly cause or allow the mixing of a photovoltaic module with municipal waste that is intended for disposal at a landfill. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2028, no person may knowingly cause or allow the disposal of a photovoltaic module in a sanitary landfill. Defines "consumer electronic device" and "photovoltaic module". Effective January 1, 2027.
SB0037	01/13/2025	Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. Removes a provision that requires a day and temporary labor agency to provide a day or temporary laborer who is assigned to work and performs work at the same third party client for more than 720 hours within a 12-month period substantially similar benefits to the job classification of employees performing the same or substantially similar work on jobs and performed under similar working conditions. Provides that, before the assignment of an employee to a worksite employer, a day and temporary labor service agency must notify a day or temporary laborer of any safety and health training that the day and temporary labor service agency or the third party client are responsible for providing to the day or temporary laborer, including any training required by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Provides that the definition of "day and temporary labor service agency" does not include a person or entity who employs laborers that require specialized training or education, including, but not limited to, machine operators, machine maintenance technicians, or quality technicians. Provides that the definition of "day and temporary labor service agency" does not include a staffing and recruiting agency. Defines "staffing and recruiting agency". Provides that the amended version of Public Act 103-427 takes effect on and after January 1, 2027. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
SB0056	01/13/2025	Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include a worker participating in the H-2A temporary agricultural program. Effective immediately.