Policy / Legislation - State & Local
ISA represents sustainable agriculture, family farms, and local producers to policymakers in Springfield and Washington. ISA tracks legislation; supporting good policy and opposing bad policy as it relates to sustainable agriculture and local foods. ISA also organizes an annual lobby day to bring local food and sustainable agriculture consumers, advocates, and producers together with their legislators (below you will find more information about ISA's annual lobby day, "Local Food Awarness Day @ the Capitol").
Current Local Food Related Bills from the 96th IL General Assembly Spring 2010 Session:
The following is a list of bills and resolutions ISA is actively following: The Farmers’ Market Technology Improvement Act (HB 4756) – Sponsored by Representative LaShawn K. Ford, HB 4756 will create a program that offers financial support to farmers’ markets and other non-traditional food markets to implement the necessary infrastructure for recipients of federal food stamps to use their Illinois issued LINK cards. HB 4756 will help low income individuals and families gain access to fresh healthy locally grown and produced foods; as well as creating expanded markets for local producers in Illinois. On March 4th, HB 4756 passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote 110-2! Next stop the Illinois Senate! To read the full bill that passed the house click here. To read more about the bill click here. For a printable factsheet on the bill click here. The Farmers’ Market Taskforce (HJR 57) – Sponsored by Representative Bill Black, HJR 57 was introduced in response to a series of incidences that have sprung up regarding inconsistent interpretation of the laws regulating what can and can’t be sold at farmers’ markets. HJR 57 creates a taskforce to review the implementation of acts that define which products and practices are permitted and which products and practices are not permitted at farmers' markets and other outdoor food sale events. To read the full resolution click here. Chemical Drift Specialty Crop Farm Registry (SJR 105) – Sponsored by Senator David Koehler, SJR 105 announces the creation geographic information system (GIS) website registry for organic and specialty crop farms. The website will be used to help conventional farmers and chemical applicators avoid damaging sensitive crops. The address of the website is www.driftwatch.org. It is still in the development phase at the moment, but officials from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the agrichemical industry are hopeful that it will be fully operational by the 2011 growing season. For more information you can read Senator Koehler’s press release announcing the website by clicking here. To read the full resolution click here. SJR 105 was introduced following an Illinois Senate Agriculture & Conservation Committee subject matter hearing on the extent and impact of chemical drift from the aerial application of pesticides that occurred in the fall of 2009. Local Food Awareness Day @ the Capitol! On April 28th, local food consumers, farmers and activists from across the state will come together in Springfield to encourage their legislators to support local food and sustainable agriculture. Illinois Stewardship Alliance would like to invite you to join us for our annual local food and sustainable agriculture lobby day and legislative reception, on April 28th, 2010. Local Food Awareness Day will consist of a legislative update and lobbying training (includes a catered box lunch), an opportunity to educate legislators about the importance of local food and sustainable agriculture, and a legislative reception at the Pasfield House following the day’s lobbying activities. For more information and how to register click here.
Recent Local Food Related Bills that were passed by the 96th Illinois General Assembly and Signed Into Law by Governor Pat Quinn:
Health Depeartments & Local Foods (SB 574) - SB 574 was passed in response to some county and city health departments discouraging locally grown food in relation to foods that are not locally grown based on health and safety concerns. SB 574 was signed into law by Governor Quinn on 8/24/2009. SB 574 states helath departments may not discourage the pruchase or consumption of locally grown foods in relation to foods that are not locally grown, except in emergency situations. To read the full bill click here.
Farm Fresh Schools Program Act (HB 78) - This bill creates a competitive grant program to link schools with local and regional farms to provide schools with fresh and minimally processed foods for school meals. The grant program would enable six schools - three rural and three urban - to implement a farm-to-school program. The Farm Fresh Schools Program was signed into law by Governor Quinn on 8/7/09, to read the full bill click here. Unfortunately, in order to have enough money to match federal stimulus funds and secure those stimulus funds regarding education no money was appropriated to the provide money for the grant program for the 2010 fiscal year. However, there is good reason to beleive that the Farm Fresh School Program will be funded next year.
Illinois Food, Farms and Jobs Act (HB 3990) -
HB 3990 which creates the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farms Council has passed both houses unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Quinn on August 18th 2009 on Agriculture day at the Illinois State Fair! To read the final version of the bill click here. The Local Food Council will be responsible for facilitating the growth of an Illinois-based local farm and food economy. Congratulations to all the Task Force members who worked to get this passed and thanks to those of you who called your representatives in support of this bill. If you haven't read the full report of the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force you can read the full report as well as view more information about the task force and HB 3990 by clicking here.
Illinois Composting Bill (SB 99) - On 5/19/09, the Illinois Congress passed an important bill, SB99, allowing food scraps to be composted in Illinois. The bill was signed into law by Governor Quinn on August 13th, 2009. Previously, under Illinois law composting facilities were treated by the IEPA with the same kind of regulatory scrutiny that landfills recieved, because of this much of the commerical composting of waste in Illinois was done in neighboring states. Now becuase of SB 99 composoting faiclities have there own regulatory standard that is expected to eliminate one of the larger hurdles to setting up comemrical composting facilities in Illinois. To read the full bill as signed by Governor Quinn, click here.