Bill > SB3633

This bill, amending the Sustainable Agriculture Act, mandates a joint study by the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency to assess how much carbon can be stored in Illinois soils through widespread adoption of practices that promote soil carbon sequestration, and to identify specific soil management techniques that can achieve this. Soil carbon sequestration is the process where plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, and when plant matter decomposes, this carbon is stored in the soil, potentially for long periods. The study will also consider the impact of climate change, including altered seasonality and weather patterns, on the effectiveness of these sequestration methods. To aid in this research, the agencies are authorized to collaborate with similar state agencies in other states and federal agencies. The findings of this study, which must be published on a publicly accessible website by January 1, 2028, and delivered to the Governor and the General Assembly, will provide valuable information on enhancing soil health and potentially mitigating climate change.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3633&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104