104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2186 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force Act. Makes findings and declares a purpose. Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the creation and development of locally produced food sources as an alternative use for the land designated for the South Suburban Airport, with certain other requirements. Lists the members of the Task Force, with certain other requirements. Provides for exemptions from certain training, disclosure, filing, and physical meeting requirements. Provides that Task Force members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the University of Illinois Extension shall provide administrative and technical support for the Task Force. Requires submission of a final report no later than December 31, 2026, after which, the Task Force is dissolved. Effective immediately. LRB104 10253 BDA 20327 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2186 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force Act. Makes findings and declares a purpose. Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the creation and development of locally produced food sources as an alternative use for the land designated for the South Suburban Airport, with certain other requirements. Lists the members of the Task Force, with certain other requirements. Provides for exemptions from certain training, disclosure, filing, and physical meeting requirements. Provides that Task Force members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the University of Illinois Extension shall provide administrative and technical support for the Task Force. Requires submission of a final report no later than December 31, 2026, after which, the Task Force is dissolved. Effective immediately. LRB104 10253 BDA 20327 b LRB104 10253 BDA 20327 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2186 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act New Act
New Act
Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force Act. Makes findings and declares a purpose. Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the creation and development of locally produced food sources as an alternative use for the land designated for the South Suburban Airport, with certain other requirements. Lists the members of the Task Force, with certain other requirements. Provides for exemptions from certain training, disclosure, filing, and physical meeting requirements. Provides that Task Force members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the University of Illinois Extension shall provide administrative and technical support for the Task Force. Requires submission of a final report no later than December 31, 2026, after which, the Task Force is dissolved. Effective immediately.
LRB104 10253 BDA 20327 b LRB104 10253 BDA 20327 b
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A BILL FOR
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1 AN ACT concerning State government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force Act.
6 Section 5. Findings; purpose. There is broad-based
7 community support for solving food insecurity problems by
8 strengthening agricultural systems on a variety of fronts,
9 including climate resilience and diversification,
10 infrastructure and logistics, and the protection of working
11 lands. The COVID-19 pandemic coupled with rising food costs
12 exposed the need for locally produced and locally processed
13 foods to complement global supply chains that may be disrupted
14 in emergency events. The residents of Illinois are interested
15 in pursuing policies that attract the resources needed to make
16 locally produced, nutritious food widely available; promote
17 community revitalization; improve soil health; promote job
18 creation and entrepreneurship; and ensure access to clean air
19 and clean water for future generations.
20 In 1985, the State of Illinois began expending tax funds
21 to plan and develop a proposed South Suburban Airport that has
22 yet to be built. After 40 years of only one consideration, the
23 people of Illinois will benefit from policymakers taking into
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 SB2186 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act New Act
New Act
Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force Act. Makes findings and declares a purpose. Creates the Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the creation and development of locally produced food sources as an alternative use for the land designated for the South Suburban Airport, with certain other requirements. Lists the members of the Task Force, with certain other requirements. Provides for exemptions from certain training, disclosure, filing, and physical meeting requirements. Provides that Task Force members shall serve without compensation. Provides that the University of Illinois Extension shall provide administrative and technical support for the Task Force. Requires submission of a final report no later than December 31, 2026, after which, the Task Force is dissolved. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
New Act
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1 consideration other options. Twenty years ago, the land was
2 removed from Will County property tax rolls. In November 2024,
3 the Will County Board adopted a resolution, "Supporting the
4 Exploration of Local Food Sources as an Alternative to the
5 South Suburban Airport". Such an exploration is needed to
6 uncover comprehensive agri-food infrastructure investment
7 opportunities that may prove to be more profitable and a
8 better use of the land than a new airport.
9 Section 10. Task Force creation; duties and
10 responsibilities. The Agri-Food Infrastructure Investment Task
11 Force is created. The Task Force shall study and make
12 recommendations regarding the creation and development of
13 locally produced food sources as an alternative use for the
14 land designated for the South Suburban Airport. The Task Force
15 shall take into consideration: (i) the project's cost,
16 feasibility, and environmental impact; (ii) the short-term and
17 long-term economic impact to the region; (iii) all options for
18 funding; and (iv) any other benefits of such development.
19 The Task Force shall engage community organizations,
20 interested groups, and members of the public for the purpose
21 of assessing the viability and desirability of the development
22 of locally produced food sources as an alternative to the
23 South Suburban Airport. The Task Force shall consider a broad
24 range of agricultural and environmental uses for the property
25 related to locally-sourced food production, including, but not
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1 limited to, regenerative agriculture, clean water projects and
2 sourcing, sustainable meat processing, and other value-added
3 processing infrastructure, soil health improvements, land
4 preservation, and enrichment.
5 The Task Force shall also explore partnership
6 opportunities with units of local government, non-profits, and
7 businesses for developing locally produced and locally
8 processed foods to address food insecurity and nutrition.
9 Section 15. Task Force members.
10 (a) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:
11 (1) one member, who shall serve as co-chairperson of
12 the Task Force, appointed by the President of the Senate;
13 (2) one member, who shall serve as co-chairperson of
14 the Task Force, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
15 Representatives;
16 (3) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
17 Senate;
18 (4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
19 House of Representatives;
20 (5) one representative of the Will County Board,
21 appointed by the Will County Board Speaker;
22 (6) one representative of the Will County Forest
23 Preserve District, nominated by its President and
24 appointed by the co-chairpersons of the Task Force;
25 (7) the Director of Agriculture or the Director's
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1 designee;
2 (8) the Director of Natural Resources or the
3 Director's designee;
4 (9) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
5 or the Director's designee;
6 (10) one representative from the Economic Development
7 and Infrastructure Committee of the Governor's Rural
8 Affairs Council, representing an agency or organization
9 different from those named in this subsection, appointed
10 by the co-chairpersons of the Task Force;
11 (10) one representative of the Will County Farm
12 Bureau, nominated by its President and appointed by the
13 co-chairpersons of the Task Force;
14 (11) one representative of the University of Illinois
15 Extension, appointed by the co-chairpersons of the Task
16 Force;
17 (12) one representative of a conservation
18 organization, appointed by the co-chairpersons of the Task
19 Force;
20 (13) one representative of an environmental
21 organization, appointed by the co-chairpersons of the Task
22 Force;
23 (14) up to 2 members, representing local non-profit
24 organizations appointed by the co-chairpersons of the Task
25 Force;
26 At the discretion of both of the co-chairpersons of the
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1 Task Force, additional individuals may participate as
2 nonvoting members of the Task Force.
3 (b) Members of the Task Force shall be appointed no later
4 than 90 days after the effective date of this Act. If any
5 members are not appointed within that 90-day period, the
6 appointing authority shall be deemed to have waived the right
7 to make that appointment.
8 (c) Vacancies in the Task Force, other than a vacancy
9 occurring because of a waiver by the appointing authority
10 under subsection (b), shall be filled by the original
11 appointing authority.
12 (d) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
13 the members of the Task Force under this Act are exempt from
14 any training, disclosure, or filing requirements under the
15 State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, the Illinois
16 Governmental Ethics Act, or any other applicable State law or
17 rule imposing such requirements.
18 (e) Task Force members shall serve without compensation.
19 (f) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
20 the Task Force may hold electronic meetings and a member of the
21 Task Force joining electronically shall be deemed present for
22 the purposes of establishing a quorum and voting.
23 (g) The University of Illinois Extension shall provide
24 administrative and technical support for the Task Force.
25 Section 20. Report. The Task Force shall prepare and
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1 publish a final report of its findings and recommendations.
2 The Task Force shall submit its final report to the Governor
3 and the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2026. Upon
4 submission of its final report, the Task Force is dissolved.
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