Public Act 0146 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2372 Enrolled LRB104 10615 BDA 20691 b

Public Act 104-0146

AN ACT concerning agriculture.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Farmland Transition Commission Act.

Section 5. Farmland Transition Commission; membership duties.

(a) The Department of Agriculture shall establish a Farmland Transition Commission to examine current barriers individuals ages 25 through 40 face when trying to purchase or access farmland, review current incentives and policies to encourage the transfer of farmland to current or prospective farmers between the ages of 25 through 40, and to make recommendations on possible incentives or policies to assist these individuals in purchasing or accessing farmland.

(b) Members of the Commission shall include:

(1) the Director of Agriculture or the Director's designee, who shall serve as chair of the Commission;

(2) the Director of Natural Resources or the Director's designee;

(3) one member representing the University of Illinois Extension, appointed by the Director of Agriculture;

(4) the State Treasurer or the State Treasurer's designee;

(5) one member of an association representing farmers, appointed by the Director of Agriculture;

(6) one member of an association representing corn growers, appointed by the Director of Agriculture;

(7) one member of an association representing soybean growers, appointed by the Director of Agriculture;

(8) one member of an association representing pork producers, appointed by the Director of Agriculture;

(9) one member of an association representing beef producers, appointed by the Director of Agriculture;

(10) one member representing specialty growers, appointed by the Director of Agriculture;

(11) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(12) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Minority Leader of the House;

(13) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate President;

(14) one member of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; and

(15) four members who are farmers between the ages of 25 and 40 from different regions of the State, appointed by the Director of Agriculture.

(c) Commission members shall serve without compensation.

(d) The Commission shall meet at least on a quarterly basis.

(e) The Commission shall file a report annually with the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1 of each year on its recommendations for possible incentives to assist young farmers between the ages of 25 and 40 in acquiring access to farmland in the State.

(f) The Department of Agriculture shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission as needed.

(g) The Commission is dissolved and this Section is repealed on December 31, 2031.