Below is a summary of activities of this section from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. While past activity is no guarantee of future activity, it may give a idea of what to expect this year.
Section Stats
Newsletters
Issues: 5
CLE
Live Programs: 2
Discussions
Posts: 5
Legislation
Bills Reviewed: 126
Continuing Legal Education
Section members receive discounts on section-sponsored CLE programs. During the 2025–26 bar year, the Section sponsored the following programs:
- Co-Sponsor 7th Annual Bock Food Law and Policy Conference (09/19/2025)
- Sponsor 24th Annual Environmental and Natural Resources Law Conference (05/21/2026 to 05/22/2026)
ISBA Central Discussions
ISBA Central communities allows section members to pose questions, answer questions, and share information with fellow section members. Members of the section get free access to the section’s community. Joining any section also grants you access to the Transactional and Litigation communities. Below are the total number of discussion posts during the 2025–26 bar year.
Environmental Law
- Community members: 336
- Total discussion posts: 5
Transactional
- Community members: 24,715
- Total discussion posts: 386
Litigation
- Community members: 24,710
- Total discussion posts: 706
Legislation
The Section Council reviewed 126 bills that may affect their members’ practice area. Highlights of the most recent legislative session include:
- House Bill 5165 creates the River Access Modernization Act.
- Senate Bill 3606 amends the Environmental Protection Act. In provisions regarding the regulation of greenhouse gases, defines "heat rate" as the gross amount of energy used by an electric generator or power plant, expressed in British thermal units (Btus), to generate one kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity, as measured using a 12-month average. In provisions regarding electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that have a heat rate greater than or equal to 7,000 Btus/kWh, requires each EGU and large GHG-emitting unit, by no later than January 1, 2035, to reduce its COe emissions by at least 50% from its existing COe emissions as measured using a 12-month gross average in 2034.
- Senate Bill 3772 amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, upon receipt of certain air pollution control construction permit applications, the Environmental Protection Agency shall evaluate (i) whether the applicable source falls within an area of environmental justice concern and, if so, notify specified persons; (ii) whether emissions can be reduced or limited; (iii) whether additional air quality modeling is needed; and (iv) whether specified permit enhancements are needed. Requires the Agency's permitting decisions to be informed by the applicant's history of violations of environmental laws and other factors.