$ISBE-FED FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Javier Cervantes and 4 co-sponsors

Provides $2 million in state funds to ISBE to support grants, contracts, and admin for the federal Farm to School State Formula Grant program.

Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments

Summary — SB 1522: $ISBE — FEDERAL FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

Note on the source materials: the packet provided contains multiple unrelated bills that share the number SB 1522 (including Arizona groundwater and Hawaii vehicle‑title reform texts). This summary focuses on the Illinois measure titled “$ISBE‑FED FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT” (appropriation to the Illinois State Board of Education), which is identified by the Bill Information header.

Purpose / Intent

Provide state appropriated funds to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to support grants, contracts, and administrative expenses connected with the federal Farm to School State Formula Grant program. The intent is to help schools and related partners expand farm‑to‑school activities — such as local food procurement, school garden and nutrition education, and related infrastructure or contracting — consistent with the federal program.

Key provisions

Appropriates $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Funds are authorized for: (a) grants and (b) contracts and (c) administrative expenses under the federal Farm to School State Formula Grant.

Effective date in the bill text: “This Act takes effect July 1, 2025.” (See notes below about enactment record.)

Who is affected

Primary recipient: Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), which will administer the funds.

Direct beneficiaries: local school districts, schools, early childhood programs, and community partners that apply for or receive farm‑to‑school grants or contracts through ISBE under the federal program.

Indirect beneficiaries: Illinois farmers, food producers, food service contractors, and local food systems that supply schools; students who receive enhanced local food and nutrition education services.

Fiscal impact

One appropriation of $2,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund. The bill does not specify multi‑year funding beyond this appropriation.

Funds are intended to be used in conjunction with the federal Farm to School State Formula Grant program (may serve as match, subgrants, or administrative support depending on ISBE rules and federal requirements).

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced text specifies an effective date of July 1, 2025.

The legislative action log included with the materials shows subsequent enactment activity (governor’s signature entries and other dates). Because the package contains mixed records, readers should confirm the final effective date and enactment citation in the official Illinois General Assembly or Secretary of State records to ensure the correct operative date.

Practical impact / considerations

Provides a modest, one‑time infusion ($2M) to help ISBE and local schools implement or expand farm‑to‑school activities tied to the federal formula grant.

Administrative details (eligibility, application process, allowable uses, distribution method) will be determined by ISBE and must align with federal grant rules.

The appropriation can increase procurement of local foods and support nutrition education and allied activities, but the scale of impact depends on ISBE program design and how funds are distributed to schools and partners.

If you want, I can:
- Pull the official enacted text and final effective date from the Illinois General Assembly website and update this summary; or
- Draft a short explainer on how ISBE typically administers federally related farm‑to‑school grants (eligibility, match requirements, reporting).