Bill
HB 2475
The act creates a state Legacy Fund to buy and steward conservation easements on farmland and open space, leveraging private and federal funds.
Status / Key dates
- Introduced by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly (Illinois) — introduced 2/4/2025 (filed with clerk 2/3–2/4/2025).
- Read first time 3/17/2025; referred to committee (Public Health noted in packet).
- Co-sponsors added later including Rep. Hoan Huynh (added 4/10/2025) and others.
- Note: the materials provided also include an unrelated Arizona HB 2475 (election law) text; that is not part of this Illinois measure.
Purpose and intent
- Establish a state program and dedicated fund to preserve open space and farmland by supporting the voluntary purchase of conservation easements and related stewardship on qualified land in Illinois.
- Encourage private landowners to conserve land threatened by conversion to development and to leverage federal, local, and private funds to protect agricultural and natural resources.
Main provisions
1. Creates the Natural Resources and Agricultural Legacy Act (new law) and repeals the existing Local Legacy Act.
2. Establishes the Illinois Natural Resources and Agricultural Legacy Fund (the “Legacy Fund”) as a special fund in the State treasury, managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Interest earned is credited to the Fund.
- Fund sources: appropriations, bond proceeds, other dedicated state/local/federal program moneys, proceeds from sale of donated/bequeathed land or assets.
3. Authorizes annual grant-making from the Legacy Fund to “qualified easement holders” for:
- Purchase of conservation easements on “qualified land” (open space, farmland, or both).
- Costs of acquisition related to purchasing conservation easements (out‑of‑pocket direct costs such as appraisals, surveys, title work, closing costs, verification, and stewardship endowments). The statute expressly excludes holder staffing, overhead, and operations from “cost of acquisition.”
- Costs of ecological management and maintenance activities (examples: prescribed burns, invasive species control, fencing, and other activities defined by DNR rule).
4. Defines key terms (e.g., conservation easement, bargain sale, farmland, open space, historically underserved farmer) and aligns with existing state conservation statutes.
5. Specifies eligible easement holders: DNR or other state agencies; federal agencies; units of local government; federally recognized tribes; and qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits that meet Department-adopted capacity and experience criteria.
6. Requires the Department to adopt administrative rules to implement the program, including qualifications for “qualified land,” grant application and award procedures, and definitions of allowable ecological management activities.
7. Establishes a Legacy Act Technical Advisory Committee within DNR to advise program implementation.
Who is affected
- Private landowners wishing to protect farmland or open space through voluntary conservation easements.
- Qualified easement holders (state/federal/local governments, tribes, eligible nonprofits) that acquire and steward easements.
- Department of Natural Resources (program management, rulemaking, grant administration).
- Potential beneficiaries include historically underserved, beginning, low‑income, and veteran farmers (definitions referenced to USDA/NRCS criteria).
- Fiscal impact depends on appropriations, transfers, and other funding sources designated for the Legacy Fund.
Procedural / implementation notes
- DNR must promulgate implementing rules and establish application and eligibility criteria.
- Grants will be made each fiscal year from the Legacy Fund as moneys are available and as applications are approved.
- The act creates a permanent special fund subject to appropriations and supports stewardship endowments to ensure long‑term management of conserved lands.
Potential impacts
- Expands state capacity to conserve farmland and open space via easements and stewardship funding.
- Intends to leverage non‑state funding and public–private partnerships.
- Repeal of the Local Legacy Act consolidates legacy conservation authority under the new statewide program; impacts depend on transition provisions and appropriations.
For more detail
- The bill text contains detailed statutory definitions and program mechanics; the DNR rulemaking and committee composition will further define operational details.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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