PEORIA – A new law championed by State Senator Dave Koehler will keep Illinois on track toward a greener future by expanding recycling opportunities for renewable energy technology.

“Sustainable energy isn’t really sustainable when it requires technology that can’t be reused and is difficult to recycle,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “As we look to expand the widespread use of renewable energy, we have a responsibility to safely dispose of any associated waste.”

As much as one million total tons of solar panel waste is estimated to accumulate in the United States by 2030, and the U.S. is expected to have the second largest number of retired solar panels in the world by 2050, with as many as an estimated 10 million total tons of panels.

States such as California, Hawaii, New Jersey, North Carolina and Washington have already implemented strategies to address this excess waste, and Illinois would join these states by creating a Renewable Energy Component Recycling Task Force under Senate Bill 3790. The task force will be responsible for investigating options for recycling and other end of life methods for renewable generation components and energy storage devices, and is required to report its findings to the General Assembly by March 1, 2023.

“Our hope is that the task force is able to find new, innovative ways to recycle and reuse materials from our solar panels, ultimately increasing the sustainability of solar energy in Illinois,” said Koehler.

The legislation was signed Friday and goes into effect immediately.

PEORIA – A legislative package supported by State Senator Dave Koehler to improve public safety and offer financial protections to Illinoisans who are victims of auto theft was signed into law Thursday.

“Car thefts are on the rise, and too many Illinoisans are paying the price,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “These laws take a multifaceted approach to prevent, address, and reduce these crimes.”

Car thieves have exploited new technology that can pick up the signal from a key fob at a distance, allowing a victim’s vehicle to be unlocked or stolen even while the fob remains in their home. To offer new resources to prosecutors, one of the measures, previously House Bill 601, states that a person is in possession of burglary tools when they possess a device designed to unlock or start a vehicle without the key or capture and duplicate a signal from the key fob.

The other pieces of legislation in the package, House Bill 3699 and House Bill 3772, further address carjacking in Illinois. House Bill 3699 provides law enforcement with additional resources for coordination against carjackings by allocating more than $6 million in grants to assist in the identification and apprehension of carjackers as well as implementing strategies to prevent future thefts.

House Bill 3772 protects individuals whose cars have been stolen from being held accountable for any red light camera or speed camera violations, fees, fines or penalties after the theft. It also allows for the reimbursement of up to $1,000 in towing and storage expenses accrued during that time.

“I’m proud to support these laws that will empower law enforcement and help protect Illinoisans from the financial consequences of car theft,” said Koehler.

All three laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.

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PEORIA – Peoria and Fulton Counties will have disposal opportunities for unwanted agricultural pesticides through a statewide “Clean Sweep” program, State Senator Dave Koehler announced.

“It’s important for the safety of our community and the health of our environment to dispose of these chemicals in a safe and responsible manner,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This program is accessible and helps take stress off our local farmers.”

The “Clean Sweep” program began in 1990 in Illinois.  Since the inception of the program, the Illinois Department of Agriculture has held 52 collection events through the state and collected 626,669 pounds of material from 2,196 participants. The collection is open to farmers, retired farmers, nursery owners, private pesticide applicators, structural pest control applicators and landowners who inherited unwanted agricultural pesticides with their property.

Individuals wanting to bring chemicals for disposal must register.  Forms can be obtained either by calling the IDOA Pesticide Hotline at 1-800-641-3934, https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Pesticides/Pages/Pesticide-Clean-Sweep-Program.aspx">online or by visiting a local program sponsor:

• Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District, 13118 N. US Hwy. 24, Lewistown, IL 61542
• Peoria County Farm Bureau, 1716 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604

“There are two main reasons to take advantage of this program,” said Brad Beaver, Acting Bureau Chief of Environmental Programs.  “The Department is able to provide the service free of charge thanks to a grant obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  If individuals were to properly dispose of agrichemicals on their own, it could be expensive.  Secondly, the state of Illinois, not the program participant, will assume liability for the proper disposal of all materials collected.”

Completed forms should be returned to the Illinois Department of Agriculture by July 27.  Letters can be addressed to Clean Sweep Program, Illinois Department of Agriculture, State Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL, 62794. Once the forms are received, participants will be sent a reservation card with the date, time and location of their collection.

PEORIA – Students with disabilities and their families will be more fully informed of the resources available to them thanks to a piece of legislation by State Senator Dave Koehler that was signed into law Friday.

“Illinois offers so many great resources for students with disabilities that can help mitigate some of the challenges these students and their families face,” said Koehler (D-Peoria).  “It’s important that we make sure families know about these resources so they can take full advantage of them.”

The Achieving a Better Life Experience program aims to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds to support individuals with disabilities to maintain health, independence and quality of life, and to provide secure funding for disability-related expenses to supplement insurance benefits and income.

Senate Bill 3474 requires school districts to provide informational material to the parent or guardian of students with disabilities about the ABLE account program.

“Students with disabilities deserve every opportunity available to help them live full, healthy lives,” said state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar (D-Bolingbrook), House sponsor of the bill. “By providing these students and their families with information about the ABLE program, we’re providing them with a valuable resource they can use to support themselves.”

The legislation is effective immediately.