103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2468

 

Introduced 2/15/2023, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
30 ILCS 105/5.990 new

    Creates the Farmland Conservancy Program Act. Creates the Farmland Conservancy Program Fund in the State treasury. Provides that the moneys in the fund shall, upon appropriation by the General Assembly, be used for the purposes of the program, which include the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, fee title acquisition grants, land improvement and planning grants, technical assistance grants, technical assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture, technology transfer activities of the Department, and administrative costs incurred by the Department in administering the program. Provides that not less than 25% of funds shall be provided to applicants that lease or sell to socially disadvantaged farmers. Provides that moneys in the fund shall also be available for the following purposes: (1) to provide technical assistance grants to eligible assistance entities in support of socially disadvantaged farmers who are seeking financing for land acquisition or leasing; (2) to provide acquisition assistance grants to eligible assistance entities for the sole purpose of reducing barriers to land access for socially disadvantaged farmers, including, but not limited to, down payment assistance, interest rate assistance, direct costs incidental to acquisition, and infrastructure for land improvement; (3) to provide technical assistance grants to eligible assistance entities in support of socially disadvantaged farmers who are seeking financing for land acquisition or leasing; and (4) to provide acquisition assistance grants to eligible assistance entities for the sole purpose of reducing barriers to land access for socially disadvantaged farmers, including, but not limited to, down payment assistance, interest rate assistance, direct costs incidental to acquisition, and infrastructure for land improvement. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change.


LRB103 25491 RLC 51840 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2468LRB103 25491 RLC 51840 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 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Farmland Conservancy Program Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings; intent.
7    (a) The General Assembly finds that:
8        (1) The agricultural lands of this State contribute
9    substantially to the State, national, and world food
10    supply and are a vital part of the state's economy.
11        (2) Illinois has lost 3,600,000 acres of farmland
12    since 1950, an average of almost 77,000 acres each year.
13    From 1950 to 1990, the population of the United States
14    increased by more than 97,000,000, and Illinois'
15    population increased by more than 2,700,000. As the
16    world's population continues to grow, so will the need for
17    food and other goods produced from agricultural
18    commodities. Preserving farmland is necessary to meet the
19    needs of people in Illinois, the United States, and around
20    the globe.
21        (3) This conversion of agricultural land permanently
22    impedes Illinois's current and future ability to store
23    carbon, maintain resilient regional ecosystems, and

 

 

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1    produce food.
2        (4) The growing population and expanding economy of
3    this State have had a profound impact on the ability of the
4    public and private sectors to conserve land for the
5    production of food and fiber, especially agricultural land
6    around urban areas.
7        (5) Agricultural lands near urban areas that are
8    maintained in productive agricultural use are a
9    significant part of Illinois' agricultural heritage. These
10    lands contribute to the economic betterment of local areas
11    and the entire State and are an important source of food,
12    fiber, and other agricultural products. Conserving these
13    lands is necessary due to increasing development pressures
14    and the effects of urbanization on farmlands close to
15    municipalities.
16        (6) The long-term conservation of agricultural land is
17    necessary to safeguard an adequate supply of agricultural
18    land and to balance the increasing development pressures
19    around urban areas.
20        (7) A program to encourage and make possible the
21    long-term conservation of agricultural lands is a
22    necessary part of the State's agricultural land protection
23    policies and programs, and it is appropriate to expend
24    money for that purpose. A program of this nature will only
25    be effective when used in concert with local planning and
26    zoning strategies to conserve agricultural land.

 

 

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1        (8) Funding is necessary to better address the needs
2    of conserving agricultural land near urban areas.
3        (9) Concurrently, access to working lands for
4    low-income farmers and farmers of color is prohibitively
5    difficult, in part due to the ongoing legacies of
6    institutionalized racism and discrimination and their
7    effects upon access to State and federal farm loan
8    programs.
9        (10) New opportunities are needed for socially
10    disadvantaged farmers to access land through ownership or
11    long-term leasing of farmland and rangeland.
12        (11) Down payment assistance, interest rate
13    assistance, predevelopment and appraisal costs, and
14    one-time investments in infrastructure improvements can
15    provide favorable terms to socially disadvantaged farmers
16    and support their access to and stewardship of Illinois
17    farmland.
18        (12) Funding for fee title acquisition and
19    agricultural conservation easements can make land
20    permanently more affordable and accessible to socially
21    disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, while ensuring that it
22    is never lost to sprawl development.
23    (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly, in enacting
24this Act, to do all of the following:
25        (1) Encourage voluntary, long-term private stewardship
26    of agricultural lands by offering landowners financial

 

 

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1    incentives.
2        (2) Protect farming operations in agricultural areas
3    from nonfarm land uses that may hinder and curtail farming
4    operations.
5        (3) Encourage long-term conservation of productive
6    agricultural lands in order to protect the agricultural
7    economy of rural communities, as well as that of this
8    State, for future generations of Illinoisans.
9        (4) Encourage local land use planning for orderly and
10    efficient urban growth and conservation of agricultural
11    land.
12        (5) Encourage local land use planning decisions that
13    are consistent with the State's policies with regard to
14    agricultural land conservation.
15        (6) Encourage improvements to enhance long-term
16    sustainable agricultural uses.
17        (7) Remove barriers to socially disadvantaged farmers
18    participating in the agricultural economy and stewarding
19    working lands under conservation.
 
20    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
21    "Agricultural land" means prime farmland, farmland of
22statewide importance, unique farmland, farmland of local
23importance, and farmland of local potential. In those areas of
24the state where lands have not been surveyed for
25classification, land shall meet the requirements of "prime

 

 

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1farmland".
2    "Agricultural use value" means the fair market value of a
3property that is restricted by an easement to its productive
4commercial agricultural use value rather than the highest
5potential use value for residential or other nonagricultural
6purposes, plus any reasonable holding and transaction costs
7incurred by the applicant, as determined by the Department.
8    "Applicant" means a municipality, county, nonprofit
9organization, conservation district, park district, or
10cooperative that has the conservation of farmland among its
11stated purposes, as prescribed by law, or as expressed in the
12entity's locally adopted policies, that applies for a grant
13authorized under this Act.
14    "Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
15    "Director" means the Director of Agriculture.
16    "Eligible assistance entity" means a nonprofit
17organization or cooperative with demonstrated technical
18expertise in agricultural financing and farm business
19development assistance to achieve the purposes of this Act.
20    "Farmer-purchaser preference" or "option to purchase at
21agricultural value" means preemptive purchase rights or other
22provisions that are part of or linked to an agricultural
23conservation easement providing the easement holder the
24preferential right to purchase protected agricultural land at
25its agricultural use value in the event the landowner intends
26to sell that land to a purchaser who does not intend to

 

 

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1maintain the land in commercial agricultural production and
2who does not demonstrate, in a manner acceptable to the
3Department, a management plan and the agricultural experience
4to maintain the land in commercial agricultural production.
5The purpose of this provision is to ensure that
6farmer-purchasers who would maintain protected land in
7commercial agricultural production can afford the land that
8might otherwise be sold at a higher price to other purchasers.
9    "Prime farmland" has the meaning ascribed to it in 7 CFR
10657.5.
11    "Productivity provision" means language in the text of an
12agricultural conservation easement that requires the land
13under easement to be managed for productive commercial
14agricultural uses, with reasonable allowances for when
15temporary fallowing is necessary or appropriate.
16    "Socially disadvantaged farmer" means a farmer who is a
17member of a socially disadvantaged group.
18    "Socially disadvantaged group" means a group whose members
19have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice
20because of their identity as members of a group without regard
21to their individual qualities. These groups include all of the
22following:
23        (1) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person having
24    origins in any of the original peoples of North and South
25    America, including Central America, and who maintains
26    tribal affiliation or community attachment).

 

 

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1        (2) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
2    original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the
3    Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to,
4    Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan,
5    the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam).
6        (3) Black or African American (a person having origins
7    in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
8        (4) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban, Mexican,
9    Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish
10    culture or origin, regardless of race).
11        (5) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
12    person having origins in any of the original peoples of
13    Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
14    "Urbanized area" means an area with a population of at
15least 50,000 inhabitants.
 
16    Section 15. Farmland Conservancy Program Fund.
17    (a) The Farmland Conservancy Program Fund is created in
18the State treasury. Except as provided in subsection (b), the
19moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the General
20Assembly, shall be used for the purposes of the program, which
21include the purchase of agricultural conservation easements,
22fee title acquisition grants, land improvement and planning
23grants, technical assistance grants, technical assistance
24provided by the Department, technology transfer activities of
25the Department, and administrative costs incurred by the

 

 

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1Department in administering the program.
2    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), moneys may be
3deposited into the fund from federal grants, and gifts and
4donations that are designated and required by the donor to be
5used exclusively for the purposes of the program.
6    (c) Not to exceed 10% of all grants made by the Department
7under this Act may be made for land improvement purposes,
8technical assistance purposes, and policy planning purposes.
9Not less than 90% of funds available for grants under this Act
10shall be expended for the acquisition of interests in land.
11For purposes of this Act, the expenditures specified in this
12subsection shall be deemed expenditures for the acquisition of
13interests in land. Not less than 25% of funds shall be provided
14to applicants that lease or sell to socially disadvantaged
15farmers. Moneys in the fund shall also be available for the
16following purposes:
17        (1) To provide technical assistance grants to eligible
18    assistance entities in support of socially disadvantaged
19    farmers who are seeking financing for land acquisition or
20    leasing. For purposes of this Section, technical
21    assistance includes, but is not limited to, organizing,
22    advising, counseling, educating, planning, drafting,
23    translating, interpreting, and consulting with socially
24    disadvantaged farmers for the purpose of preparing them
25    for favorable financing for land acquisition or
26    negotiating leasing arrangements.

 

 

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1         (2) To provide acquisition assistance grants to
2    eligible assistance entities for the sole purpose of
3    reducing barriers to land access for socially
4    disadvantaged farmers, including, but not limited to, down
5    payment assistance, interest rate assistance, direct costs
6    incidental to acquisition, and infrastructure for land
7    improvement.
8        (3) To provide technical assistance grants to eligible
9    assistance entities in support of socially disadvantaged
10    farmers who are seeking financing for land acquisition or
11    leasing. For purposes of this paragraph (3), technical
12    assistance includes, but is not limited to, organizing,
13    advising, counseling, educating, planning, drafting,
14    translating, interpreting, and consulting with socially
15    disadvantaged farmers for the purpose of preparing them
16    for favorable financing for land acquisition or
17    negotiating leasing arrangements.
18        (4) To provide acquisition assistance grants to
19    eligible assistance entities for the sole purpose of
20    reducing barriers to land access for socially
21    disadvantaged farmers, including, but not limited to, down
22    payment assistance, interest rate assistance, direct costs
23    incidental to acquisition, and infrastructure for land
24    improvement.
 
25    Section 20. Agricultural conservation easement. Applicants

 

 

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1for an agricultural conservation easement or fee title
2acquisition grant shall meet all of the following eligibility
3criteria:
4        (1) Demonstrate that the parcel proposed for
5    conservation is expected to continue to be used for
6    commercial agricultural production if successfully
7    conserved.
8        (2) The parcel proposed for conservation is expected
9    to continue to be used for, and is large enough to sustain,
10    commercial agricultural production. The land is also in an
11    area that possesses the necessary market, infrastructure,
12    and agricultural support services, and the surrounding
13    parcel sizes and land uses will support long-term
14    commercial agricultural production.
15        (3) The applicable municipality or county has a
16    general plan that demonstrates a long-term commitment to
17    agricultural land conservation. This commitment shall be
18    reflected in the goals, objectives, policies, and
19    implementation measures of the plan, as they relate to the
20    area of the county or city where the easement acquisition
21    is proposed.
22        (4) Without conservation, the land proposed for
23    protection is likely to be converted to nonagricultural
24    use in the foreseeable future.
25    The Director shall not disburse any grant funds for
26easement or fee title acquisitions unless the applicant, and

 

 

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1in the case of an easement acquisition grant, the seller,
2agrees to restrict the use of the land in perpetuity.
 
3    Section 25. Grant for acquisition of fee title to
4agricultural land.
5    (a) The Director shall disburse funds to an applicant for
6a grant for the acquisition of fee title to agricultural land
7only if the applicant agrees to all of the following
8conditions:
9        (1) Upon acquisition of the property, the applicant
10    treats the property as encumbered by an agricultural
11    conservation easement subject to this Act and approved by
12    the Department.
13        (2) Upon acquisition of the property, the applicant
14    shall do either of the following:
15            (A) Sell the fee title subject to an agricultural
16        conservation easement approved by the Department to a
17        private landowner at not more than agricultural use
18        value within 3 years of the acquisition of the fee
19        title.
20            (B) Lease the acquired property, subject to an
21        agricultural conservation easement, including a
22        productivity provision, at an affordable agricultural
23        rate, and approved by the department, to a socially
24        disadvantaged farmer or rancher within 3 years of the
25        acquisition of the fee title.

 

 

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1        (3) Include a farmer-purchaser preference in the text
2    of the agricultural conservation easement used to encumber
3    the acquired property.
4    (b)(1) If the applicant sells the fee title, as specified
5in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subsection (a), the
6applicant shall reimburse the fund directly from escrow within
730 days after the sale of the restricted fee title by an amount
8equal to the Department's proportional share of the net
9proceeds of the sale.
10    (2) "Net proceeds of the sale" means the fair market value
11of the land less the value of the easement and associated
12transaction costs.
13    (3) The Department's proportional share of the net
14proceeds of the sale shall be calculated using a factor
15reflecting the Department's proportional share of the purchase
16price paid by the applicant in the original acquisition of fee
17title, taking into account contributions from all sources
18toward that original purchase price.
 
19    Section 30. Land improvement grants. Grants may be made
20for land improvements. Use of these grants shall be limited to
21the improvement of lands protected by agricultural
22conservation easements under the program, or of lands
23protected by other qualified conservation easement programs,
24if the improvement will directly benefit the lands protected
25by agricultural conservation easements under the program. An

 

 

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1application for a land improvement grant shall be evaluated
2with respect to the extent to which it satisfies one or more of
3the following criteria:
4        (1) The improvement will enhance the agricultural
5    value of the land protected by the easement, and promote
6    its long-term sustainable agricultural use such as
7    increasing soil organic matter or soil health, water
8    supply development, and revegetation of eroding
9    streambanks.
10        (2) The improvement will increase the compatibility of
11    agricultural operations with sensitive natural areas.
12        (3) The improvement will demonstrate new and
13    innovative best management practices that have the
14    potential for wide application.
15        (4) The proposed improvement includes the financial
16    and technical involvement of other agencies, such as
17    University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service,
18    conservation districts, the Department of Natural
19    Resources, the United States Farm Services Agency, and the
20    United States Natural Resources Conservation Service.
21        (5) The improvement is part of a coordinated watershed
22    management plan or the equivalent.
23        (6) The application satisfies other relevant criteria
24    established by the Department.
 
25    Section 35. Use of agricultural conservation easement or

 

 

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1fee title acquisition grant. Applicants for an agricultural
2conservation easement or fee title acquisition grant shall
3demonstrate that the parcel proposed for conservation is
4expected to continue to be used for commercial agricultural
5production if successfully conserved.
 
6    Section 40. Evaluation of proposals for fee title or
7agricultural conservation easement acquisition grant. The
8Director shall evaluate a proposal for a fee title or
9agricultural conservation easement acquisition grant based
10upon the overall value of the project, taking into
11consideration the goals and objectives for this program, and
12the extent to which the proposed project satisfies the
13following selection criteria:
14        (1) The quality of the agricultural land, based on
15    land capability, farmland mapping and monitoring program
16    definitions, productivity indices, and other soil,
17    climate, and vegetative factors.
18        (2) The proposal meets multiple natural resource
19    conservation objectives, including, but not limited to,
20    wetland protection, wildlife habitat conservation, and
21    scenic open-space preservation.
22        (3) The proposal reduces barriers to land access for
23    socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through
24    ownership or long-term leases.
25        (4) The applicant demonstrates fiscal and technical

 

 

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1    capability to effectively carry out the proposal.
2    Technical capability may be demonstrated by agricultural
3    land conservation expertise on the governing board or
4    staff of the applicant, or through partnership with an
5    organization that has that expertise.
6        (5) The proposal demonstrates a coordinated approach
7    among affected local stakeholders. If other entities are
8    directly impacted by the proposal, there is written
9    support from those entities demonstrating a willingness to
10    cooperate. The support of neighboring landowners who are
11    not involved in the proposal shall be considered.
12        (6) The conservation of the land supports long-term
13    private stewardship and continued agricultural production
14    in the region.
15        (7) The proposal demonstrates an innovative approach
16    to agricultural land conservation with a potential for
17    wide application in this State.
18        (8) The amount of matching funds and in-kind services
19    contributed by local governments and other sources toward
20    the acquisition of the fee title or agricultural
21    conservation easement, or both.
22        (9) The price of the proposed acquisition is
23    cost-effective in comparison to the fair market value.
24        (10) Other relevant considerations established by the
25    Director.
 

 

 

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1    Section 45. Compatibility with county or municipal plan.
2Before the disbursement of grant funds for easements or fee
3title acquisitions under this Act, both of the following
4conditions shall be met:
5        (1) The proposed agricultural conservation project
6    shall be deemed by the Department to be compatible with
7    the applicable municipal or county general plan.
8        (2) For land within a municipality's sphere of
9    influence, the proposed agricultural conservation project
10    shall be deemed by the Department to be compatible with
11    both the applicable county and municipal general plans.
 
12    Section 50. Exemptions. An agricultural conservation
13easement shall not prevent any of the following:
14        (1) The granting of rights-of-way by the owner of the
15    subject land in and through the land for the installation,
16    transportation, or use of water, sewage, electric,
17    telephone, stock water development and storage, energy
18    generation, and fencing, provided that the agricultural
19    productivity of the land and any multiple uses that made
20    the acquisition a priority for selection under the
21    program, are not significantly impaired by those
22    activities.
23        (2) The construction and use of structures on the
24    subject land that are necessary for agricultural
25    production and marketing, including, but not limited to,

 

 

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1    barns, shops, packing sheds, cooling facilities,
2    greenhouses, roadside marketing stands, stock water
3    development and storage, energy generation, and fencing,
4    provided that the agricultural productivity of the land
5    and any multiple uses that made the acquisition a priority
6    for selection under the program, are not significantly
7    impaired by those activities.
8        (3) Customary part time or off season rural
9    enterprises or activities, including, but not limited to,
10    hunting and fishing, wildlife habitat improvement,
11    predator control, timber harvesting, and firewood
12    production, provided that the agricultural productivity of
13    the land and any multiple uses that made the acquisition a
14    priority for selection under the program, are not
15    significantly impaired by those activities.
 
16    Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
17Section 5.990 as follows:
 
18    (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
19    Sec. 5.990. The Farmland Conservancy Program Fund.