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HB 2810

AGRICULTURE IMPACT MITIGATION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Larry Walsh

Expands Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act to cover wind, storage, pipelines, and lines; requires mitigation agreements and inspections, with work stoppage to protect farmland.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2810

HB 2810 — Agricultural Impact Mitigation (summary)

Status: Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee
Introduced: February 6–13, 2025 (bills in the record show introductions in both Illinois and Arizona; see Notes)
Primary sponsor (Illinois): Rep. Lawrence “Larry” Walsh, Jr.
Other named sponsors in the record: Ralph Heap, Michael Way, David Marshall Sr. (appear to be from a separate bill/version)

Purpose / Intent

The bill updates and broadens Illinois’ existing Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act (retitled the “Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act”) to require and standardize mitigation agreements and inspections for a wider set of infrastructure projects that affect agricultural land. Its stated aim is to protect agricultural resources and farmland productivity by ensuring developers follow agreed mitigation practices and by giving the Department of Agriculture enforcement authority.

Key provisions

  • Changes the Act’s short title from the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act to the Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act (conforming the statute name to broader coverage).
  • Expands the types of projects covered: agricultural impact mitigation agreement requirements are made applicable to commercial wind energy facilities, battery energy storage systems, pipelines, and electric lines (in addition to existing covered renewable projects).
  • Describes the information that must be included in agricultural impact mitigation agreements (the bill text indicates specific required content, though the available excerpt is truncated).
  • Requires that each construction or deconstruction project undergo inspection by an agricultural inspector.
  • Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to temporarily halt construction, deconstruction, or related activities on a project if the Department finds noncompliance with the terms of an agricultural impact mitigation agreement.
  • Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Power Agency Act and the Illinois Municipal Code to reflect the expanded and retitled statute.
  • Defines terms used by the Act (definitions included in the bill).
  • Effective date: immediately upon enactment.

Who would be affected

  • Developers and operators of commercial wind facilities, battery energy storage systems, pipelines, electric transmission/distribution lines, and other infrastructure projects sited on or near agricultural land.
  • Farmers and landowners whose land may be used or impacted by covered projects.
  • Local governments and utilities (affected by conforming changes to municipal and power agency statutes).
  • Illinois Department of Agriculture and designated agricultural inspectors (increased enforcement and inspection responsibilities).

Potential impacts

  • Increased pre‑construction requirements for covered projects (negotiation and execution of mitigation agreements; inspections).
  • Potential for project delays or temporary work stoppages if noncompliance is found during inspections.
  • Stronger protection measures for agricultural soils, drainage, and farm operations through enforceable mitigation commitments.
  • Possible increased administrative burden on the Department of Agriculture and on developers (compliance monitoring, documentation).

Procedural history / next steps

  • Introduced in the Illinois House (Rep. Lawrence Walsh Jr.) early February 2025; referred to committees (Rules; Energy & Environment; Transportation noted in the record).
  • Readings and committee referrals recorded in February–March 2025; as of March 21, 2025 the bill was re‑referred to the Rules Committee under Rule 19(a).

Notes / data caveat

The material provided for HB 2810 also contains an unrelated and truncated Arizona bill text concerning amendments to Arizona Revised Statutes section 36‑551 (developmental disabilities / Prader‑Willi syndrome). That appears to be a data merge error and is not part of the Illinois Agricultural Impact Mitigation bill summarized above. The summary above reflects the Illinois bill content (LRB104 08813 BDA 18868 b). For legislative action or statutory detail beyond the excerpt, consult the full enrolled or introduced bill text in the Illinois General Assembly records.

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

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