IllinoisHB5593104th General Assembly (2025–2026)House

LAND CONSERVATION ACT

Sponsored By: Sharon Chung (Democratic)

In Committee

Summary

Creates the Agricultural Land Conservation Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, a Farmland Conversion Fee of $275 per acre shall be paid by the buyer or lessee of a transaction for any agricultural land that will be removed from production for the specific purpose of developing an industrial park, a commercial area, a single-family or multi-family dwelling or for being put to any other use that removes the agricultural land from production. Provides that the fee shall be collected by the Department of Agricultural. Provides for the creation of the Farmland Conversion Fee Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that all Farmland Conversion Fees collected by the Department of Agriculture shall be contributed to the Fund. Further provides that moneys in the Fund may be exclusively used for the following purposes: (i) supporting education and programs that support healthy soil clean water, and climate-smart agricultural practices; (ii) supporting operations funding for soil and water conservation districts; (iii) covering costs associated with administering the Act; (iv) any other purposes that the Department of Agriculture determines are consistent with the purposes of the Act. Provides that, before expending moneys for any other purposes, the Department of Agriculture shall, subject to the availability of moneys in the Fund, ensure that during each State fiscal year, $10,000,000 is distributed to soil and water conservation districts, for the purpose of supporting their operations funding. Provides that $500,000 shall be distributed to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of collecting fees and administering the program created under the Act. Provides for penalties. Effective immediately.

agriculture & conservation

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Sharon Chung

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Diane Blair-Sherlock

    Democratic • House

  • Sonya M. Harper

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper

    4/9/2026House
  2. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

    3/27/2026House
  3. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

    3/27/2026House
  4. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock

    3/23/2026House
  5. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

    3/18/2026House
  6. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

    3/13/2026House
  7. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Sharon Chung

    3/13/2026House
  8. Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

    3/12/2026House
  9. Referred to Rules Committee

    2/13/2026House
  10. First Reading

    2/13/2026House
  11. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Sharon Chung

    2/6/2026House

Bill Text

  • House Amendment 1

  • Introduced

Related Bills

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