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HB 2933

AG-DROUGHT & CLIMATE-STUDY

104th Regular Session Introduced by Carol Ammons and 8 co-sponsors

Directs the Illinois Department of Agriculture to study drought resilience actions, costs, and feasibility, including floatovoltaics and a potential in‑department drought office, w

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2933

HB 2933 — Agricultural Drought & Climate Resilience Study (Summary)

Status: Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee
Introduced: February 6–18, 2025 (introduced in Illinois General Assembly by Rep. Sonya M. Harper)
Effective date: Upon becoming law; Department report due within 2 years of that date

Purpose / Intent

To direct the Illinois Department of Agriculture to conduct a structured study of actions, programs, and institutional options to strengthen the State’s agricultural sector against drought and climate change impacts — including evaluation of costs, benefits, and feasibility — and to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 205‑36 to the Department of Agriculture Law directing the Department to study:
    1. Specific actions and practices to mitigate drought and climate impacts on Illinois agriculture.
    2. The costs, benefits, and feasibility of establishing and implementing financial and technical assistance programs for agricultural producers.
    3. The costs, benefits, and feasibility of agricultural land management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maximize carbon sequestration.
    4. The costs, benefits, and feasibility of using “floatovoltaics” (floating solar photovoltaic systems) in State waterways.
    5. The costs, benefits, and feasibility of creating an in‑Department Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office to provide voluntary technical assistance, nonregulatory programs, and incentives to harden the agricultural sector.
  • Authorizes the Department to contract with outside organizations or institutions with relevant environmental and agricultural expertise to complete the study.
  • Allows the Department to include the value of ecosystem services in required cost‑benefit analyses.
  • Requires the Department to file a report of findings and recommendations with the General Assembly within two years after the act’s effective date.

Who is affected

  • Agricultural producers and farm operations in Illinois (potential beneficiaries of future assistance or incentives).
  • Illinois Department of Agriculture (tasked with study and potential establishment of a resilience office).
  • State agencies and local governments that may implement future recommendations.
  • Vendors/consultants or research institutions that may contract with the Department.
  • Waterways and public lands considered for floatovoltaic installations.

Impact and next steps

  • This bill mandates a policy and feasibility study — not direct program creation or funding for implementation. Its findings could lead to proposed programs, legislation, or budget requests to support drought resilience, carbon sequestration practices, or floatovoltaic projects.
  • The required report (within 2 years) is the primary deliverable that will shape legislative and administrative follow‑up.

Sponsors / Procedural notes

  • Primary sponsor (as introduced in Illinois): Rep. Sonya M. Harper. Additional listed cosponsors include Lisa Davis, Maurice A. West II, La Shawn K. Ford, Sharon Chung, Joyce Mason, Camille Y. Lilly, Carol Ammons, Debbie Meyers‑Martin, and others.
  • Legislative history shows House passage and transmission to the Senate; as of April 11, 2025 the bill was re‑referred to the Senate Rules Committee (Rule 19(a)).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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