The government tried to play the role of the Grinch, but those in Illinois that celebrate the Christmas spirit won the day as an attempt to ban some Christmas lights failed. Since November is the time of year when most who do Christmas decorating will work on getting the lights up, let’s clarify what’s legal and what is not. First, it is true the United States Energy Department banned the sale of incandescent light bulbs as pointed out by The Hill. It’s also true that the state of Illinois recently passed legislation that bans the sale of these bulbs starting January 1, 2026.