HB5396 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16581 BDA 29980 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5396

Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Daniel Didech

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Healthy Soils Task Force Act. Establishes the Healthy Soils Task Force in the Department of Agriculture, with specified members. Provides timelines for initial appointments and the first meeting. Lists duties of the Task Force. Allows the Task Force to consult with specified agencies and entities. Requires the Task Force to submit a report on or before December 31, 2027. Dissolves the Task Force and repeals the Act on July 1, 2028. Makes findings. Defines terms.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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 Healthy Soils Task Force Act.

Section 5. Findings.

(a) The General Assembly finds that healthy soils are a limited natural resource and fundamental for healthy and sustainable food production. Improving soil health means increasing soil organic matter and diversifying soil's microbial activity to enhance agricultural productivity and environmental resilience.

(b) As Illinois is a leading agricultural state with productive soils and abundant water supplies, a commitment to healthy and productive soils and clean water is critical as population and food production demands rise. However, the State's soil has been depleted of organic matter and trace minerals, making the soil less fertile, requiring more inputs, and resulting in a degradation of the soil structure that builds resilience and helps to maintain clean water.

(c) There is a real and pressing opportunity for the State's farmers to capitalize on the economic and production benefits of improved soil health, while simultaneously improving surface and groundwater quality. Improving the health of the State's soil is the most effective way for agricultural producers to increase crop and forage productivity and profitability while also protecting the environment.

(d) The General Assembly finds that appropriate planning and coordination is needed to accelerate and coordinate the adoption of conservation practices that:

(1) rebuild and protect soil carbon to increase water holding capacity and enhance the vitality of the subsurface microbiome for landowners to capitalize on the economic and production benefits of soil health;

(2) enhance water quality;

(3) capture carbon;

(4) build resilience to drought and pests;

(5) reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

(6) expand pollinator and other wildlife habitats; and

(7) protect fragile ecosystems for a more sustainable future.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Commodity crops" means large-scale agricultural products grown for global trade and industrial use rather than direct consumption. "Commodity crops" includes corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, and other large-scale agricultural products grown for global trade, animal feed, biofuels, or processed foods.

"Task Force" means the Healthy Soils Task Force created in Section 15 of this Act.

Section 15. Healthy Soils Task Force.

(a) The Healthy Soils Task Force is created in the Department of Agriculture for the purposes described in Section 5 of this Act. The Task Force shall consist of the Director of Agriculture or the Director's designee, who shall be a voting member of the Task Force, and the following voting members appointed by the Governor:

(1) 2 members who are representatives of soil and water conservation districts;

(2) one member who is an academic expert in agriculture and soil health from the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois;

(3) one member who is an academic expert in agriculture and soil health from the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Illinois;

(4) one member who is an academic expert in agriculture and soil health from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois;

(5) one member who is an academic expert in agriculture and soil health from the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State University;

(6) 3 members who are farmers who do not grow commodity crops, including at least 2 farmers who are using healthy soil practices;

(7) 2 members who are farmers who grow commodity crops;

(8) one member who is a representative of an Illinois-based environmental organization;

(9) 2 members who are representatives of national farm or conservation organizations; each such representative shall be from a different organization;

(10) one member who is a representative of a sustainable agriculture organization; and

(11) 2 members who are representatives of Illinois farm organizations.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of the following nonvoting members:

(1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Speaker's designee;

(2) the President of the Senate or the President's designee;

(3) the House Minority Leader or the House Minority Leader's designee; and

(4) the Senate Minority Leader or the Senate Minority Leader's designee.

(c) In selecting membership for appointment to the Task Force, the Governor shall seek to appoint members with expertise in methods for incorporating systems of healthy soil stewardship into working agricultural operations and for optimizing environmental services provided through such practices. The Governor shall make appointments to the Task Force not later than 60 days after the effective date of this Act, and appointed members shall begin serving immediately. Members shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out their duties as members.

(d) The Director of Agriculture shall call the first meeting of the Task Force not later than 90 days after the effective date of this Act. At its first meeting, the members shall elect a chairperson. After the initial meeting, the Task Force shall meet as necessary at the call of the chairperson.

(e) The Department of Agriculture shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. The Task Force may request additional assistance from appropriate federal and State agencies.

(f) The Task Force shall do all of the following:

(1) The Task Force shall develop a comprehensive healthy soils initiative for the State.

(2) The Task Force shall develop a comprehensive action plan to coordinate efforts to carry out the healthy soils initiative using standards for organic matter, biological activity, biological diversity, and soil structure as measures to assess improved soil health. The action plan shall establish goals, formulate timelines for task completion, and determine resources required and resource availability. In developing the action plan, the Task Force shall examine (i) issues related to providing farmers and ranchers with research, education, technical assistance, and demonstration projects; (ii) options for financial incentives to improve soil health; and (iii) the contribution of livestock to soil health.

(3) The Task Force shall develop recommendations for testing for chemicals, including dioxin, in the soil.

(4) The Task Force shall develop recommendations for the use of plants for soil remediation.

(5) The Task Force shall identify realistic and achievable goals and timelines for improvement of soil health in the State through voluntary partnerships among agricultural producers and relevant State and local agencies and other public and private entities.

(6) The Task Force shall review provisions of relevant federal law, including any implementing rules, regulations, and guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture and identify opportunities to leverage State, local, or private funds under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the United States Department of Agriculture and other conservation programs for the purposes of the healthy soils initiative. The Task Force shall include information obtained from the review in the report issued under this Section.

(g) To carry out its duties, the Task Force may consult with other agencies or organizations, including all of the following:

(1) the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois; the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Illinois; the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois; and the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State University;

(2) the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, and the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture;

(3) the Soil Health Institute;

(4) the Soil Health Partnership or a successor or similar program; and

(5) any other State or federal agencies or public or private entities with responsibility or expertise in research, demonstration, education, advising, funding, or promotion relating to agronomic and other agricultural land management practices consistent with the purposes of the Task Force.

(h) On or before December 31, 2027, the Task Force shall submit a report that shall include the comprehensive action plan and the results of the Task Force's other duties under subsection (f) of this Section, as well as the Task Force's findings and recommendations, to the Governor and the General Assembly, as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act.

Section 20. Repeal. The Task Force is dissolved and this Act is repealed on July 1, 2028.