HB3067

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SMALL FARMERS RESTORATION PRGM

What this bill does

Creates the Small Farmer Restoration Program Act. Creates the Small Farmer Restoration Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that the moneys in the Fund, upon appropriation by the General Assembly, shall be used for the purposes of the program, which include grants for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, technical assistance grants, technical assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture, and administrative costs incurred by the Department in administering the program. Provides that moneys may be deposited into the Fund from federal grants and gifts and donations that are designated and required by the donor to be used exclusively for the purposes of the program. Provides that not more than 10% of available funds under the Act may be used for technical assistance purposes and administration. Provides that not less than 90% of funds available for grants under the Act shall be expended for the acquisition of agricultural conservation easements. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall also be available for the following purposes: (1) to provide technical assistance grants to qualified entities in support of socially disadvantaged farmers who are seeking access to farmland; and (2) to provide grants for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements to qualified easement holders. Provides that moneys from the Fund shall be available in each fiscal year to any qualified easement holder having made an application that has been reviewed by the Department. Provides that subject to appropriation and in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, the Department shall establish the Farm Conservation Corps to provide residents between the ages of 18 and 29 from socially disadvantaged groups the academic, vocational, and social skills necessary to pursue long-term and productive careers in agriculture. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to carry out the provisions of the Act, including the adoption of rules that establish a process for submitting and processing of applications for grants no later than December 31, 2026. Provides that rules shall align with existing federal and local programs to maximize potential for matching funds. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Sponsor: Sonya M. Harper Chamber: House Introduced: 2025-02-06
Stuck
P(Advance)
35.3%
Chance it ever reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
0.9%
Chance it becomes law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Forecast
6.2%
Low P(law) at intro — sponsor & topic only; no progress or delay.
Confidence: 65%

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: In Committee · Last action 311 days ago · STAGNANT

How does a bill become law in Illinois?
  1. Introduction of Bill

    A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.

  2. Committee Work — Hearings

    The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.

  3. Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report

    The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.

  4. Floor Debate

    The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.

  5. Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber

    If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.

  6. Gubernatorial Action

    The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory. Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.

Sponsor Context

Hearings

This bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing.

Witness slips

4 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.

Name Organization Representing Position Hearing committee Hearing date
Kristopher Reynolds American Farmland Trust American Farmland Trust Proponent Agriculture & Conservation 2025-03-11
Nicole Saulsberry sierra club Illinois Sierra Club Illinois Proponent Agriculture & Conservation 2025-03-11
Mark Raney Illinois Farm Bureau Illinois Farm Bureau Opponent Agriculture & Conservation 2025-03-12
Tyler Bohannon IL Dept. of Agriculture IL Dept. of Agriculture No Position On Merits Agriculture & Conservation 2025-03-12

Roll-call votes

Total votes and outcome per event. Deciding vote = margin of 1; those voters on the winning side could have changed the outcome by flipping.

Date Chamber Type Description Yea Nay Present NV Outcome Margin Deciding voters
H Committee Agriculture & Conservation 6 3 0 0 Passed 3
H Floor Third Reading 71 38 1 8 Passed 33

Action History

40 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-06-02 — Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2025-02-06 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Sonya M. Harper House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2025-02-06 Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-02-06 Committee Assignment
Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-03-04 Committee Assignment
Assigned toAgriculture & Conservation Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.
2025-03-12 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Edgar González, Jr. Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Chief co-sponsor added.
2025-03-12 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. La Shawn K. Ford Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Chief co-sponsor added.
2025-03-12 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Carol Ammons Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Chief co-sponsor added.
2025-03-12 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Lisa Davis Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Chief co-sponsor added.
2025-03-12 Committee Action Positive
Do Pass / Short DebateAgriculture & Conservation Committee; 006-003-000 Senate Rule 3-11(a)(1); House Rule 22(a)(1), 52(b)
Committee recommends passage and places it on the Short Debate calendar (limited floor discussion time). Strong positive signal — committee believes bill has broad support.
2025-03-13 Floor Process Positive
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52
Bill placed on the Second Reading calendar. Positive — bill is queued for floor action.
2025-03-13 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Debbie Meyers-Martin Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-13 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Sharon Chung Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-13 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Joyce Mason Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-13 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Maurice A. West, II Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-13 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Norma Hernandez Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-19 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Nicolle Grasse Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-19 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Nicholas K. Smith Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-19 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Lilian Jiménez Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-25 Floor Process Positive
Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1)
Bill reaches the floor amendment stage on Short Debate calendar. Major milestone — bill has passed committee and is on the floor.
2025-03-25 Floor Process Positive
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8)
Bill placed on the Third Reading calendar — queued for final vote.
2025-03-25 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-25 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Kimberly Du Buclet Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-10 Floor Vote Positive
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed071-038-001 Senate Rule 5-1(f)/7-1/7-2; House Rule 37(f)/49/50
Bill PASSED on Short Debate Third Reading. Bill cleared the chamber.
2025-04-10 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Rita Mayfield Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-10 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Yolonda Morris Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-10 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Michael Crawford Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-10 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Jehan Gordon-Booth Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-10 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Harry Benton Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-04-14 Cross-Chamber Positive
Arrive in Senate Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
House bill arrives in the Senate after passing the House.
2025-04-14 Procedural
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54
Bill queued for First Reading in the second chamber.
2025-04-14 Cross-Chamber Positive
Chief Senate SponsorSen. Mattie Hunter Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
Senate sponsor assigned for a House bill.
2025-04-14 Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-04-14 Committee Assignment
Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-04-24 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Alternate Co-SponsorSen. Mary Edly-Allen Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Alternate co-sponsor added.
2025-04-29 Committee Assignment
Assigned toAppropriations Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.
2025-04-29 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Alternate Co-SponsorSen. Cristina Castro Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Alternate co-sponsor added.
2025-05-09 Deadlines & Re-referrals
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4)
Senate committee deadline set or extended. Procedural — establishes when the bill must be voted out of committee.
2025-05-15 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added as Alternate Co-SponsorSen. Graciela Guzmán Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Alternate co-sponsor added.
2025-05-23 Deadlines & Re-referrals
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4)
Senate committee deadline set or extended. Procedural — establishes when the bill must be voted out of committee.
2025-06-02 Deadlines & Re-referrals Mild −
Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments Rule 3-9(a)
Senate procedural rule — bill re-referred to Assignments for missing Rule 2-10 deadline. Bill is NOT dead but faces uphill battle.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2025-02-06 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Sonya M. Harper House Rule 6(b) Introduction & Filing
2025-02-06 House First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing
2025-02-06 House Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment
2025-03-04 House Assigned toAgriculture & Conservation Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment
2025-03-12 House Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Edgar González, Jr. Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-12 House Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. La Shawn K. Ford Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-12 House Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Carol Ammons Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-12 House Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Lisa Davis Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-12 House Do Pass / Short DebateAgriculture & Conservation Committee; 006-003-000 Senate Rule 3-11(a)(1); House Rule 22(a)(1), 52(b) Committee Action Positive
2025-03-13 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52 Floor Process Positive
2025-03-13 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Debbie Meyers-Martin Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-13 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Sharon Chung Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-13 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Joyce Mason Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-13 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Maurice A. West, II Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-13 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Norma Hernandez Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-19 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Nicolle Grasse Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-19 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Nicholas K. Smith Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-19 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Lilian Jiménez Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-25 House Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1) Floor Process Positive
2025-03-25 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8) Floor Process Positive
2025-03-25 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-25 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Kimberly Du Buclet Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-10 House Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed071-038-001 Senate Rule 5-1(f)/7-1/7-2; House Rule 37(f)/49/50 Floor Vote Positive
2025-04-10 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Rita Mayfield Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-10 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Yolonda Morris Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-10 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Michael Crawford Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-10 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Jehan Gordon-Booth Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-10 House Added Co-SponsorRep. Harry Benton Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-14 Senate Arrive in Senate Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) Cross-Chamber Positive
2025-04-14 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54 Procedural
2025-04-14 Senate Chief Senate SponsorSen. Mattie Hunter Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) Cross-Chamber Positive
2025-04-14 Senate First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing
2025-04-14 Senate Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment
2025-04-24 Senate Added as Alternate Co-SponsorSen. Mary Edly-Allen Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-04-29 Senate Assigned toAppropriations Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment
2025-04-29 Senate Added as Alternate Co-SponsorSen. Cristina Castro Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-05-09 Senate Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4) Deadlines & Re-referrals
2025-05-15 Senate Added as Alternate Co-SponsorSen. Graciela Guzmán Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-05-23 Senate Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4) Deadlines & Re-referrals
2025-06-02 Senate Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments Rule 3-9(a) Deadlines & Re-referrals Mild −