HB2933 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 07699 BDA 17743 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2933

Introduced 2/6/2025, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 205/205-36 new

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Directs the Department of Agriculture to study: (1) the specific actions that can be taken and the practices that can be implemented to mitigate the impacts of drought and climate change on agriculture in the State; (2) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of establishing and implementing financial and technical assistance programs to mitigate the impacts of drought and climate change on agricultural producers in the State; (3) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of using agricultural land management to realize greenhouse gas reductions and maximize carbon sequestration opportunities in the State; (4) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of using floatovoltaics in State waterways; and (5) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of establishing within the Department an Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office for the purpose of providing agricultural producers with the voluntary technical assistance, nonregulatory programs, and incentives necessary to harden the State's agricultural sector to the coming impacts of drought and climate change. Allows the Department to enter into a contract or grant agreement with one or more organizations or institutions with expertise in environmental and agricultural issues for the purpose of completing the tasks delegated to the Department in these provisions. Authorizes the Department, in conducting the required cost-benefit analyses, to take into account the value of ecosystem services. Directs the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

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 5. The Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 205-36 as follows:

(20 ILCS 205/205-36 new)

Sec. 205-36. Agricultural drought and climate resilience report.

(a) The Department shall study:

(1) the specific actions that can be taken and the practices that can be implemented to mitigate the impacts of drought and climate change on agriculture in the State;

(2) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of establishing and implementing financial and technical assistance programs to mitigate the impacts of drought and climate change on agricultural producers in the State;

(3) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of using agricultural land management to realize greenhouse gas reductions and maximize carbon sequestration opportunities in the State;

(4) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of using floatovoltaics in State waterways; and

(5) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of establishing within the Department an Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office for the purpose of providing agricultural producers with the voluntary technical assistance, nonregulatory programs, and incentives necessary to harden the State's agricultural sector to the coming impacts of drought and climate change.

(b) The Department may enter into a contract or grant agreement with one or more organizations or institutions with expertise in environmental and agricultural issues for the purpose of completing the tasks delegated to it in this Section. In conducting the cost-benefit analyses described in this Section, the Department may take into account the value of ecosystem services.

(c) Within 2 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Department shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by filing a copy of the report described in this Section with General Assembly as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.