SPRINGFIELD – To ensure Illinois maintains consistent oversight of dangerous chemical contamination regardless of shifting federal policies, State Senator Laura Fine is advancing legislation to strengthen the state’s ability to track and understand PFAS—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—in the environment.
“PFAS contamination is not just a future problem – it’s affecting communities today,” said Fine (D Glenview). “This measure ensures we have the tools to track these chemicals and take meaningful action to protect public health and the environment.”
PFAS—short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—are a class of roughly 5,000 human made chemicals that have been widely used since the 1940s for their resistance to oil and water. Those same properties cause them to persist in the environment, contributing to contamination in air, soil, and water.
Currently, PFAS oversight falls largely within the existing regulatory framework of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. However, inconsistent reporting requirements have made it difficult for the state to fully understand the scope and sources of PFAS contamination.
Senate Bill 3917 would establish new monitoring requirements for PFAS in wastewater discharges, sludge, and biosolids at major facilities and land application sites. The legislation would strengthen environmental protections by requiring periodic sampling and reporting under certain water control permits.
The measure aims to close critical information gaps, particularly around PFAS levels in wastewater entering treatment plants and in the sludge produced at those facilities—material that may later be applied to farmland.
“Our communities, farms, and water supplies deserve transparency and accountability,” Fine said. “This bill puts Illinois at the forefront of monitoring forever chemicals so we can prevent contamination before it becomes a crisis.”
Senate Bill 3917 passed the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the House.
