104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3716
 
Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Rita Mayfield
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 205/205-455 new
    Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Agriculture to create a grant program to award grants of up to $250,000, subject to appropriation, to cover the costs and labor of any qualified applicant farmer to distribute healthy, free food to expectant mothers in need who reside in the same county or in a municipality within 20 miles of the farmer's farm, with certain requirements. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Defines terms.


LRB104 11228 BDA 21310 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB3716LRB104 11228 BDA 21310 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil 
5Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 
6205-455 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 205/205-455 new)
8    Sec. 205-455. Local farmer grant program for expectant 
9mothers in need.
10    (a) In this Section:
11    "Expectant mother" means an individual who is pregnant.
12    "Expectant mother in need" means an expectant mother whose 
13household income does not exceed 200% of the poverty 
14guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the 
15U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the 
16authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).
17    "Farmer" means a person who owns or manages a farm.
18    "Farm" means the main place of business of the farmer, 
19where the farmer is engaged in agriculture, raising living 
20organisms for food.
21    (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall, by 
22rule, create a grant program to award grants of up to $250,000 
23to cover the costs and labor of any qualified applicant farmer 
 
 
HB3716- 2 -LRB104 11228 BDA 21310 b

1to distribute healthy, free food to expectant mothers in need 
2who reside in the same county or in a municipality within 20 
3miles of the farmer's farm. The Department shall determine 
4that the applicant is a qualified applicant if the following 
5are all true:
6        (1) The applicant is a farmer.
7        (2) The applicant has a feasible plan for the 
8    distribution of health, free, and local food produced by 
9    the farmer to expectant mothers in need in the same county 
10    or in a municipality within 20 miles of the farmer's farm, 
11    in the determination of the Department.
12        (3) The applicant is a trustworthy individual or 
13    business, in the determination of the Department.
14        (4) All other requirements set by rule by the 
15    Department have been met by the applicant. 
16    (c) The Department shall adopt rules to implement this 
17Section.