FARM SAFETY WEEK

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jason Bunting

Designates Farm Safety Week (Sept 21–25, 2026) in Illinois to raise awareness of farm hazards and promote safety practices for employers, workers, and the public.

Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jason R. Bunting

Summary of HR 974 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Purpose and intent

Designates a period of emphasis on farm safety in Illinois. Specifically, it proclaims September 21 through September 25, 2026 as Farm Safety Week in the State of Illinois.

Aims to raise awareness about safety hazards in agriculture, promote best practices, and encourage employers and farm workers to prioritize safety during the farming season.

Highlights both physical dangers (e.g., confined spaces, roadway safety, grain storage risks) and the emotional toll on farming communities, including health and well-being considerations.

Key provisions

Establishes the official designation of Farm Safety Week for the week of September 21–25, 2026.

Encourages awareness and education among:

Employers and farm workers to prioritize safety.
The broader public to exercise caution around farm operations and vehicles.

Emphasizes multiple safety domains:

Confined spaces safety
Roadway safety and visibility for both farm vehicles and other drivers
Grain storage facility safety
Farm worker health and emotional well-being

Frames the designation as a call to action rather than creating new regulatory mandates or funding mechanisms.

Who/what is affected

The designation primarily affects:

Illinois households and communities during Farm Safety Week (Sept 21–25, 2026)
Employers in the agricultural sector and farm workers, who are encouraged to adopt safety practices
The general public, particularly motorists sharing the road with farm vehicles

No new statutory duties, penalties, or appropriations are specified in the bill; the measure serves as an awareness and recognition designation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative action: The bill is a House Resolution (HR0974) sponsored by a member of the Illinois House, with co-sponsorship noted.

Effective date: The designation is for September 21–25, 2026, within the calendar year 2026.

Process impact: As a resolution, it acknowledges the importance of farm safety and fosters awareness; it does not amend statutes, authorize spending, or impose requirements.

Context and significance

Aligns with national concerns about the agriculture sector being high-risk, including elevated fatality and injury rates.

Seeks to bring attention to both on-farm hazards (e.g., grain storage, confined spaces) and off-farm considerations (road safety, visibility).

Recognizes the broader well-being of the farming community, pointing to both physical safety and mental health considerations during the farming season.

If you’d like, I can compare this designation with similar Farm Safety Week proclamations in other states or outline potential public-facing materials (flyers, social media messages) that could accompany such an awareness week.