SB2831 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16978 HLH 30392 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2831

Introduced 1/13/2026, by Sen. Lakesia Collins

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
20 ILCS 1305/10-65

Creates the Comprehensive Charitable Food System Coordination Act. Provides that State agencies involved in administering or appropriating State or State-managed federal grant funds for hunger relief shall consult and coordinate, to the extent practicable, with all categories of actors within the charitable food system. Further provides that those State agencies shall ensure that grant solicitations and funding criteria reflect the interconnected roles of food providers, distributors, producers, facilitators, and data systems. Requires those State agencies to consider proposals that strengthen coordination, efficiency, resiliency, and equity across the charitable food system. Provides that State agencies may establish advisory groups composed of representatives from food providers and distributors. Provides that each State agency administering hunger relief grant funds shall submit an annual report to the appropriate State oversight entity describing: how actors in the charitable food system were engaged in grant planning, allocation, and evaluation; measurable impacts on food access, food quality, and community resilience; and barriers or opportunities identified through cross-sector collaboration. Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall make grants to food banks and providers (rather than food banks only). Defines "provider" as a public or charitable organization that is unaffiliated with a food bank, that maintains an operation involving the provision of food or edible commodities, and that, as an integral part of its normal activities, provides meals or food to feed needy persons on a regular basis. Effective July 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

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 Comprehensive Charitable Food System Coordination Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that State-administered hunger relief programs and grantmaking activities strengthen the entire charitable food system by considering all key actors involved in food access, distribution, and coordination.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Actors in the charitable food system" includes, but is not limited to:

(1) food providers, including food banks, food pantries, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, schools, hospitals, mutual aid organizations, retailers, and meal programs;

(2) food distributors, including last-mile delivery organizations and wholesalers;

(3) food producers, including farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and community gardens;

(4) facilitators, including logistics providers, warehousers, storage facilities, aggregators, outreach coordinators, and operational support agencies; and

(5) data systems used for tracking, measurement, and reporting.

"Charitable food system" means the network of organizations, entities, and systems that procure, transport, distribute, or facilitate access to food or edible commodities, or the products of food or edible commodities, for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Section 15. State grant coordination requirements.

(a) In administering or appropriating State or State-managed federal grant funds for hunger relief, each State agency shall:

(1) consult and coordinate, to the extent practicable, with all categories of actors within the charitable food system as defined in subsection (b) of Section 10;

(2) ensure that grant solicitations and funding criteria reflect the interconnected roles of food providers, distributors, producers, facilitators, and data systems; and

(3) consider proposals that strengthen coordination, efficiency, resiliency, and equity across the charitable food system.

(b) State agencies may establish advisory groups or working groups composed of representatives from the actors in the charitable food system to assist in developing funding priorities, performance metrics, and partnership guidelines.

Section 20. Reporting; evaluation. Each State agency administering hunger relief grant funds shall submit an annual report to the appropriate State oversight entity describing:

(1) how actors in the charitable food system were engaged in grant planning, allocation, and evaluation;

(2) measurable impacts on food access, food quality, and community resilience; and

(3) barriers or opportunities identified through cross-sector collaboration.

Section 25. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by changing Section 10-65 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/10-65)

Sec. 10-65. Hunger Relief Fund; grants.

(a) The Hunger Relief Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. From appropriations to the Department from the Fund, the Department shall make grants to food banks and providers for the purpose of purchasing food and related supplies. In this Section, "food bank" means a public or charitable institution that maintains an established operation involving the provision of food or edible commodities, or the products of food or edible commodities, to food pantries, soup kitchens, hunger relief centers, or other food or feeding centers that, as an integral part of their normal activities, provide meals or food to feed needy persons on a regular basis.

(b) Moneys received for the purposes of this Section, including, without limitation, appropriations, gifts, donations, grants, and awards from any public or private entity must be deposited into the Fund. Any interest earned on moneys in the Fund must be deposited into the Fund.

(c) In this Section, "provider" means a public or charitable organization that is unaffiliated with a food bank, that maintains an operation involving the provision of food or edible commodities, and that, as an integral part of its normal activities, provides meals or food to feed needy persons on a regular basis.

(Source: P.A. 96-604, eff. 8-24-09; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.