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SB 3633

SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Paul Faraci and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a program to promote and verify soil carbon sequestration practices on Illinois farms, with incentives, standards, and reporting to track carbon gains.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 3633

Bill Summary: SB 3633 (104th Illinois General Assembly) — Soil Carbon Sequestration

Purpose and intent

  • The bill focuses on promoting soil carbon sequestration practices within Illinois. Its overarching aim is to support agricultural sustainability, improve soil health, and contribute to climate-related objectives by increasing the storage of carbon in agricultural soils.

Key provisions and changes

  • Program authorization and framework: Establishes or expands a state program or framework to support soil carbon sequestration activities. This may involve coordinating with state agencies, universities, and extension services to develop standards, practices, and reporting mechanisms.
  • Technical guidelines and standards: Specifies acceptable methods and practices for sequestering soil carbon, including soil health improvements, cover cropping, reduced tillage, crop rotation, and other soil management practices known to enhance soil organic matter.
  • Measurement, verification, and reporting: Creates processes to measure and verify soil carbon gains, potentially using standardized sampling protocols, soil testing, and third-party verification to ensure accuracy and credibility of sequestration estimates.
  • Incentives and funding: May authorize financial incentives (grants, subsidies, or cost-sharing) for farmers and landowners to adopt soil carbon practices. Could include funding for pilot projects, demonstrations, or statewide programs.
  • Technical assistance and education: Defines a role for state agencies or partner institutions to provide technical assistance, training, and outreach to agricultural producers about soil carbon practices and the benefits.
  • Public-private or interstate coordination: May include provisions for partnerships with private sector entities or other states to leverage funding, share best practices, and align with broader climate or agriculture policy goals.
  • Reporting and evaluation: Requires periodic reporting to the General Assembly on program progress, outcomes, and measured soil carbon results, including any quantified environmental or economic benefits.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries/participants: Agricultural producers, landowners, and operators who implement soil carbon practices (e.g., no-till or reduced-till farming, cover crops, diversified rotations, compost application).
  • State agencies and partners: Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), University of Illinois System and extension services, and potentially environmental and budgetary offices involved in program administration and oversight.
  • Industry and stakeholders: Agricultural input suppliers, conservation groups, crop consultants, and researchers who participate in implementation, measurement, and education initiatives.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Program development and roll-out: The bill would outline phases for establishing guidelines, launching pilot efforts, and scaling up to statewide programs over a defined timeline.
  • Budgetary considerations: Likely requires appropriations or authorization of funding, with specified fiscal years for initial grants, ongoing support, and evaluation activities.
  • Reporting cadence: Mandates periodic progress reports to the General Assembly, detailing participation, carbon sequestration estimates, financial expenditures, and program outcomes.
  • Compliance and governance: Establishes oversight mechanisms to ensure program integrity, data collection standards, and adherence to verification protocols.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Encourages adoption of soil health practices that can improve crop resilience, water retention, and long-term soil productivity.
  • Aims to create a verifiable pipeline of soil carbon data that could feed into state climate metrics or potential environmental markets.
  • Balances incentives with accountability through measurement, verification, and reporting requirements.
  • Reflects statewide interest in integrating agricultural practices with climate and environmental objectives.

Note: This summary is based on the bill’s title and sponsor information. For precise statutory language, definitions, exemptions, funding levels, and the exact mechanisms of implementation, please refer to the official bill text and fiscal impact statements.

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

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