HB5224 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 25504 NLB 34792 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5224

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Healthy Soil Act. Creates the Healthy Soil Program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture with the purpose of promoting and supporting farming and ranching systems and other forms of land management that increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability, microbiology, and water retention to improve health, yield, and profitability of the soils in the State. Provides that the Healthy Soil Program shall be composed of a healthy soil assessment and education program, a healthy soil grants program, and other programs established by the Department to accomplish the purposes of the Act. Sets forth requirements of the Department in administering the Program. Provides for use of funds appropriated to the Department to administer the Program.

A BILL FOR

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 Healthy Soil Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Champion" means a land manager that is declared a soil health champion due to the land manager's excellence in applying and promoting soil health principles, as modeled by the soil health champion program of the national association of conservation districts.

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

"Eligible entity" means an entity with proven land management capacity to support healthy soil.

"Healthy soil" means soil that enhances its continuing capacity to function as a biological system, increases its organic matter, and improves its structure and water-holding and nutrient-holding capacity.

"Program" means the Healthy Soil Program created by this Act.

"Soil health principle" means a principle that promotes soil health in a given environment and includes:

(1) keeping soil covered;

(2) minimizing soil disturbance on cropland and minimizing external inputs;

(3) maximizing biodiversity;

(4) maintaining a living root; and

(5) integrating animals into land management, including grazing animals, birds, beneficial insects, or keystone species such as earthworms.

"Supported method" means a method that is based upon soil health principles and is scientifically supported to promote healthy soil.

"Technical assistance" means assistance provided to a farmer or rancher to achieve the purpose of this Act and includes outreach, education, financial assistance, and assistance with project planning, project design, grant applications, project implementation, or project reporting.

"Technical assistance provider" means a local, State, federal, tribal, or educational entity with demonstrated technical expertise in designing and implementing agricultural management practices that contribute to healthy soils.

Section 10. Healthy Soil Program created; purpose.

(a) The Healthy Soil Program is created in the Department. The Department shall administer the Program.

(b) The Purpose of the Program is to promote and support farming and ranching systems and other forms of land management that increase soil organic matter, aggregate stability, microbiology, and water retention to improve the health, yield, and profitability of the soils of the State.

Section 15. Soil assessment and education; grants; Department duties.

(a) The Program shall be composed of:

(1) a healthy soil assessment and education program;

(2) a healthy soil grants program; and

(3) other programs established by the Department to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

(b) In administering the healthy soil assessment and education program, the Department shall:

(1) work through technical assistance providers or eligible entities to:

(A) encourage farmers, ranchers, and land managers to undertake voluntary soil health measurements;

(B) raise awareness about desirable soil health characteristics;

(C) facilitate on-site, producer-led workshops and training sessions to promote and engender soil health stewardship; and

(D) complete a baseline soil health assessment by testing the organic matter, water infiltration rate, microbiology, and aggregate stability of soils, in addition to analyzing phospholipids and monitoring soil cover;

(2) establish a statewide network of champions to promote soil health stewardship, offer guidance to producers and land managers, and encourage teamwork;

(3) create a program to provide ongoing training in soil health stewardship and workshop facilitation for champions and eligible entities;

(4) in collaboration with technical assistance providers, sponsor soil health workshops and training sessions at research centers and learning sites throughout the State; and

(5) educate students and the public about the importance of soil health stewardship.

(c) In administering the healthy soil grant program, the Department shall:

(1) award grants to eligible entities to provide technical assistance to producers and land managers in advancing soil health principles and implementing supported methods;

(2) develop a user-friendly grant program application and application and reporting processes;

(3) develop criteria for the award of grants, under which grants shall be awarded equitably and priority may be given to eligible entities serving young producers, veterans, and small farms or ranches, or to projects that benefit economically or socially disadvantaged communities; and

(4) ensure that grant funds are used only to advance soil health and soil health stewardship.

(d) The Department shall encourage producer, land manager, landowner, and interagency collaboration in the management of healthy soils and shall:

(1) work with technical assistance providers to advance soil health stewardship across private, State, and federal lands by fostering collaboration among producers, land managers, and landowners; and

(2) conduct outreach to producers and land managers to promote the Program and other federal, State, or local grant opportunities that support and promote healthy soils.

(e) In administering the Program, the Department shall support local economic growth in the State and shall:

(1) identify ways to increase the generation and use of compost to build healthy soils;

(2) to the extent permitted by the Procurement Code, prioritize in-State sourcing of the resources needed for the Program, including testing resources, compost, seeds, fencing supplies, and equipment; and

(3) support the emerging market for food grown in the State under management for healthy soils.

(f) The Department may adopt rules to implement this Act.

Section 20. Use of appropriated funds. Funds appropriated to the Department to administer the Program may be used for:

(a) the healthy soil grant program;

(b) the healthy soil assessment and education program;

(c) promotion and outreach;

(d) Department staffing support;

(e) capacity building for eligible entities;

(f) soil health research;

(g) travel and reimbursement of other expenses in accordance with applicable law; and

(h) other expenditures as determined by the Department to be necessary to support the overall effective administration of the Program.