Shoppers browsing the lighting aisle in Illinois hardware stores may notice a familiar product disappearing. As of January 1, compact fluorescent light bulbs, commonly known as CFLs, can no longer be sold or distributed in Illinois.
The change is part of House Bill 2363, one of nearly 300 new state laws that took effect at the start of the year. The legislation was introduced in February 2023 by State Representative Nicholas Smith, a Chicago Democrat, and was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in August 2024.
Under the new law, retailers are prohibited from selling or distributing screw-base and bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps. These bulbs were once heavily promoted for their energy efficiency and were widely used in household lamps and ceiling fixtures.
State officials say the ban reflects a shift in how lawmakers view energy efficiency and environmental risk. While CFLs use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs, they contain small amounts of mercury, which poses disposal and health concerns if bulbs break or are improperly discarded.
The legislation takes a phased approach. Restrictions on pin-base CFLs and linear fluorescent lamps—the long tube-style lights commonly found in offices, schools, and commercial buildings—are set to take effect in 2027.
Officials say the gradual rollout is intended to give businesses time to transition while encouraging consumers to adopt safer, more efficient alternatives such as LED lighting, which uses less energy, lasts longer, and contains no mercury.
For Illinois residents, the change marks the end of an era for a bulb that was once considered a cornerstone of energy conservation, now replaced by newer technology deemed both cleaner and safer.