103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3235

 

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
505 ILCS 135/6.1 new

    Amends the Sustainable Agriculture Act. Provides that on or before January 1, 2024, the Department of Agriculture shall establish and implement a 3-year compost reimbursement pilot program to reimburse farming operations in this State for purchasing and using compost products, including transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor costs. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall create an online form for eligible farming operations to apply for cost reimbursement. Provides that a farming operation may submit only one application for purchases made and usage costs incurred during any given fiscal year. Provides that applications for reimbursement must be filed: (1) on or before September 1, 2024, for compost purchased and usage costs incurred in fiscal year 2024; (2) on or before September 1, 2025, for compost purchased and usage costs incurred in fiscal year 2025; and (3) on or before September 1, 2026, for compost purchased and usage costs incurred in fiscal year 2026. Provides that (1) a farming operation may not receive more than 50% of the costs it has incurred for the purchase and use of compost products, including transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor costs; (2) a farming operation may not receive more than $50,000 per year; and (3) a farming operation may not receive reimbursement for compost products that it has transferred, or intends to transfer, to another individual or entity, whether or not for compensation. Provides that the provision is repealed on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.


LRB103 29696 RLC 56101 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3235LRB103 29696 RLC 56101 b

1    AN ACT concerning agriculture.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Sustainable Agriculture Act is amended by
5adding Section 6.1 as follows:
 
6    (505 ILCS 135/6.1 new)
7    Sec. 6.1. Compost incentive pilot program.
8    (a) In this Section, "farming operation" means a
9commercial agricultural, silvicultural, or aquacultural
10facility or pursuit, including the care and production of
11livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry
12products, apiary products, and plant and animal production for
13nonfood uses; the planting, cultivating, harvesting, and
14processing of crops; and the farming or ranching of any plant
15or animal species in a controlled salt, brackish, or
16freshwater environment.
17    (b) On or before January 1, 2024, the Department of
18Agriculture shall establish and implement a 3-year compost
19reimbursement pilot program to reimburse farming operations in
20this State for purchasing and using compost products,
21including transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor
22costs.
23    (c) The Department of Agriculture shall create an online

 

 

HB3235- 2 -LRB103 29696 RLC 56101 b

1form for eligible farming operations to apply for cost
2reimbursement. All applications for cost reimbursement must be
3submitted on the form along with documentation of the costs of
4purchasing and using compost products for which the applicant
5is requesting reimbursement. The Department of Agriculture may
6request that an applicant provide information to verify the
7size, sale weight, or amount of compost products purchased and
8the cost of transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor.
9The applicant must also declare that it is not seeking
10reimbursement for compost products that it has transferred, or
11intends to transfer, to another individual or entity, whether
12or not for compensation.
13    (d) A farming operation may submit only one application
14for purchases made and usage costs incurred during any given
15fiscal year. Applications for reimbursement must be filed:
16        (1) on or before September 1, 2024, for compost
17    purchased and usage costs incurred in fiscal year 2024;
18        (2) on or before September 1, 2025, for compost
19    purchased and usage costs incurred in fiscal year 2025;
20    and
21        (3) on or before September 1, 2026, for compost
22    purchased and usage costs incurred in fiscal year 2026.
23    (e) The Department of Agriculture must distribute
24reimbursement funds on a first-come, first-served basis,
25subject to the following limitations:
26        (1) a farming operation may not receive more than 50%

 

 

HB3235- 3 -LRB103 29696 RLC 56101 b

1    of the costs it has incurred for the purchase and use of
2    compost products, including transportation, equipment,
3    spreading, and labor costs;
4        (2) a farming operation may not receive more than
5    $50,000 per year; and
6        (3) a farming operation may not receive reimbursement
7    for compost products that it has transferred, or intends
8    to transfer, to another individual or entity, whether or
9    not for compensation.
10    (f) The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the
11State and its officers, agents, and employees from all claims
12arising out of or resulting from the compost products
13purchased that are subject to the compost reimbursement pilot
14program under this Section.
15    (g) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027.
 
16    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17becoming law.