Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB2965

LRB104 19196 BDA 32641 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2965

Introduced 1/27/2026, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new
415 ILCS 5/Tit. XIX heading new
415 ILCS 5/60 new
415 ILCS 5/60.1 new
415 ILCS 5/60.2 new
415 ILCS 5/60.3 new
415 ILCS 5/60.4 new

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Establishes the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture. Allows grants to be awarded from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury, for the installation of equipment for the storage and dispensing of fuels with higher blends of ethanol or biodiesel feedstock, according to the application and eligibility requirements established by rule by the Department of Agriculture. Requires the Comptroller and Treasurer to transfer, from June 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, $3,000,000 each calendar quarter from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund. Provides for eligibility for grant funding and eligible expenditures from the fund. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1038 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new)

Sec. 5.1038. The Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund.

Section 10. The Environmental Protection Act is amended by adding Title XIX as follows:

(415 ILCS 5/Tit. XIX heading new)

TITLE XIX: RENEWABLE FUELS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

(415 ILCS 5/60 new)

Sec. 60. Creation; administration. The General Assembly hereby establishes the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFI Program). The Department of Agriculture shall administer the Renewable Infrastructure Program in accordance with the terms of this Title. Grants may be awarded from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund to applicants satisfying the application and eligibility requirements established by the Department of Agriculture, by rule.

(415 ILCS 5/60.1 new)

Sec. 60.1. Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund.

(a) The Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund may accept moneys from any lawful source. Any interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into the Fund.

(b) Moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department of Agriculture (1) to provide grants to petroleum marketers, petroleum terminal operators, and any other companies that the Department of Agriculture, by rule, determines are eligible for grant funding under this Title and (2) to pay for the administration costs incurred by the Department of Agriculture in the management of the grant program.

(c) An eligible grant recipient shall not receive more than $1,000,000 in grant funding under this Title.

(415 ILCS 5/60.2 new)

Sec. 60.2. Funding. From July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, the Comptroller shall order transferred, and the Treasurer shall transfer, $3,000,000 each calendar quarter from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund for the purpose of establishing a grant program funding the installation of equipment for the storage and dispensing of fuels with higher blends of ethanol or biodiesel feedstock. In this Section, "higher blends" means gasoline blends greater than E-10 and biodiesel blends greater than B-10. No transfer shall take place from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund in any calendar quarter from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, if the Underground Storage Tank Fund has a balance at or below $50,000,000.

(415 ILCS 5/60.3 new)

Sec. 60.3. Eligibility. Eligible recipients for grant funding under this Title are exclusively limited to retail petroleum marketers, petroleum terminal operators, and any other related companies identified by the Department of Agriculture, by rule. No funding shall be made available to any public body pursuant to this Title. Applicants for grant funding under this Title are responsible for covering at least 50% of the costs associated with installing the equipment for which grant funding is provided under this Title. A company may not apply for more than $1,000,000 in grant funding under this Title or more than $100,000 for any one site.

In this Section, "public body" has the meaning given to that term in Section 1.02 of the Open Meetings Act.

(415 ILCS 5/60.4 new)

Sec. 60.4. Expenditures. Eligible expenditures from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund include tank modifications, tanks, piping, fuel dispensers, and any other equipment deemed necessary by the Department of Agriculture, by rule.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.