On Aug. 13, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed SB 1869 in Orland Park, an area that is leading the way in sustainable stormwater infrastructure. The legislation recognizes the effectiveness of new stormwater management practices and gives municipalities greater flexibility to build and invest in green infrastructure and other innovative approaches. The law expands the list of practices municipalities can implement and fund with special assessments and tax dollars. The legislation aims to help cities update their stormwater infrastructure and prevent flooding. The law follows the state’s historic April flood and was created from a proposal by the Center for Neighborhood Technology.

“As suburban infrastructure expands, more communities are forced to deal with the impact of flooding caused by storm runoff,” said state Sen. Tom Cullerton, one of the bill’s original sponsors. “This law outlines cities’ unique environmental opportunities to prevent property damage. They have the green light to go green.” Read more from the governor’s press release.