Bill > HB3066

This bill establishes the Distressed Farmers Act, which provides comprehensive support for small-scale and struggling farmers in Illinois. The bill defines a "distressed farmer" as either a farmer with less than 75 acres of land and annual gross revenue under $500,000, or a farmer who has been denied a Farm Service Agency number despite having at least 5 years of farming experience. The Department of Agriculture will create a grant program with three main components: up to $5 million for year-long apprenticeships supporting farm workers, up to $5 million to help distressed farmers with well-related expenses, and up to $10 million to assist farmers with various financial needs such as repairing equipment, building greenhouses, and purchasing tractors. Additionally, the bill introduces a tax credit for distressed farmers beginning in 2027, allowing them to claim up to $50,000 in qualified farming expenses against their state income tax. Qualified expenses include equipment repairs, greenhouse construction, tractor purchases, and food production for underserved communities. The tax credit can be carried forward for up to 5 years if it exceeds the taxpayer's current tax liability, providing flexible financial relief for struggling farmers.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=3066&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104