Your Light Bulbs May Be Making A Change If You Live In This State In 2026

If you live in the state of Illinois, you won't be seeing compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, at the store again. The ban on the sale and distribution of these bulbs went into effect on the first day of 2026, three years after the bill was introduced in 2023. It was signed into law in August 2024 by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. It targets screw-base and bayonet-base CFLs, specifically, with pin-base compact fluorescent and linear fluorescent lamps set to suffer the same fate in January 2027.

According to The Center Square, House Bill 2363 aimed to tackle the threats these bulbs pose to public health and the environment. Although these lights became popular in the late 1980s and 1990s as a more durable and energy efficient alternative to the now virtually obsolete incandescent bulbs, their toxic mercury composition has raised concern in recent years. While it is not illegal to have fluorescent lights in your home in Illinois, you will no longer be able to purchase replacements.

Illinois state Sen. Adriane Johnson, the sponsor for this bill, highlighted the health risk posed by CFLs (per The Center Square). The mercury in CFLs can contaminate the surrounding air and soil. A single broken bulb contains up to 4 milligrams of the toxic metal and, therefore, doesn't pose an immediate risk. Prolonged exposure, however, can. When combined with mercury pollution produced by other major actors, like mining or combustion of coal, it may poison both animals and humans. Symptoms of mercury poisoning are varied, ranging from breathing problems to nausea and, in extreme cases, lung diseases.

CFLs are a common household item that is actually hazardous waste. Per the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, an estimated 75% of CFLs are improperly disposed of. If your bulbs burn out but are still intact, take them to a retailer, such as IKEA, Ace Hardware, and Whole Foods, for proper disposal. If they break, air the room, and, unless there's no other option, don't vacuum the pieces — deposit them in a jar or sealed plastic bag and, to be safe, take them to a hazardous waste facility.

Vermont became the first state to prohibit the sale of CFLs in 2024, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Rhode Island followed. Illinois is the 10th state to enact this ban. LEDs, which have become the norm since the 2020s, will gradually become the only option available to Illinoisans. There are many reasons LEDs are better than regular light bulbs, including double the lifetime of CFLs and half of their energy consumption.