Bill Text: IL HB3235 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 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 Provides that the provision is repealed on January 1, 2027.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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-05-19 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB3235 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB3235-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3235 Introduced , 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
HB3235 LRB103 29696 RLC 56101 b
AN ACT concerning agriculture.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Sustainable Agriculture Act is amended by
adding Section 6.1 as follows:
(505 ILCS 135/6.1 new)
Sec. 6.1. Compost incentive pilot program.
(a) In this Section, "farming operation" means a
commercial agricultural, silvicultural, or aquacultural
facility or pursuit, including the care and production of
livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry
products, apiary products, and plant and animal production for
nonfood uses; the planting, cultivating, harvesting, and
processing of crops; and the farming or ranching of any plant
or animal species in a controlled salt, brackish, or
freshwater environment.
(b) 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.
(c) The Department of Agriculture shall create an online

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form for eligible farming operations to apply for cost
reimbursement. All applications for cost reimbursement must be
submitted on the form along with documentation of the costs of
purchasing and using compost products for which the applicant
is requesting reimbursement. The Department of Agriculture may
request that an applicant provide information to verify the
size, sale weight, or amount of compost products purchased and
the cost of transportation, equipment, spreading, and labor.
The applicant must also declare that it is not seeking
reimbursement for compost products that it has transferred, or
intends to transfer, to another individual or entity, whether
or not for compensation.
(d) A farming operation may submit only one application
for purchases made and usage costs incurred during any given
fiscal year. 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.
(e) The Department of Agriculture must distribute
reimbursement funds on a first-come, first-served basis,
subject to the following limitations:
(1) a farming operation may not receive more than 50%

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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.
(f) The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the
State and its officers, agents, and employees from all claims
arising out of or resulting from the compost products
purchased that are subject to the compost reimbursement pilot
program under this Section.
(g) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.