The Hands In The Soil (HITS) Federation is a coalition that has come together to address and give voice to Black issues connected to agriculture and environmental justice policies in the state of Illinois.
HITS seeks to eradicate policies that are detrimental and impede the health of the land and Black residents across Illinois.
Join Us for Black Farmers and Growers Lobby Day!
May 15, 2024 is the 2nd Annual Black Farmers and Growers Lobby Day that will bring farmers, growers, and partners from all over Illinois together at our state Capitol in Springfield to meet with legislators and push for the passage of key policies that lift up BIPOC voices in the food and farm space.
Ready to rally? Register here to join us in Springfield! Free bus transportation is available so be sure to note you want a ride!
Following are our priority bills that we’re advocating for. Click on the bill numbers below to view current status and movement.
HR 0625
Black Farmers Week Resolution 2024
Declares Black Farmers Week in the State of Illinois. Encourages the people of Illinois and their representatives in government to learn about the history of Black farming communities and the contributions made by African Americans to agriculture in the United States.
HB 56
Farmer Restoration Program Act
Breaking Down Barriers to the Future of Black-Owned Agriculture
The Farmer Restoration Program creates a state grant program for purchasing farmland conservation easements, which keep farmland available for farming and reduce development threats, enabling farmland ownership at agricultural not development prices.
The Act:
• Establishes the Farmer Restoration Program Fund within the Illinois Dept of Agriculture
• Authorizes IDOA to makes grants for agricultural conservation easements and technical assistance
• Establishes the Farm Conservation Corps program to develop skills for careers in agriculture
• Positions Illinois among 28 other states as ready to capture and match federal conservation dollars
HB 2523
Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Grants
Farming is a business, and just like any business, farmers need access to financial resources – capital – to grow and build their businesses. Socially-disadvantaged farmers and growers have not historically benefitted from vital U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to the same extent as other farmers – often due to insufficient or inadequate outreach and assistance efforts. HB2523 Appropriates $ 5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of making grants to socially-disadvantaged farmers to provide funding for startup capital and for costs associated with farming operations and equipment.
HB 4857
Distressed Farmers Act
Creates the Distressed Farmers Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture shall fund and administer programs to address the needs of distressed farmers. Provides for a tax credit for distressed farmers. Amends The Illinois Income Tax Act.
HB 5052
The Good Food Purchasing Law
Shifts millions of taxpayer dollars toward local, fair, healthy, humane, and sustainable farms and businesses. This bill is about supporting local farmers, food workers, reducing food waste, and promoting health. Illinois aims to become the first state in the nation to adopt the Good Food Purchasing Policy. Every year, Illinois invests millions to procure food for state agencies and institutions such as veterans homes, hospitals, universities, schools, and prisons. The Good Food Purchasing Policy Act creates greater transparency and accountability in public food procurement and commits large public institutions to direct their food spend toward five core values: local & community-based economies, environmental sustainability, food workers & labor, animal welfare, and community health & nutrition.
SB 3077
Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program
This proposed legislation creates a $2 million state-funded grant program to help farmers, food businesses, livestock processors, cooperatives and local governments in purchasing equipment for processing, milling, refrigeration, trucking, food hubs, community kitchens and other infrastructure needed to scale up local food production and supply chains to meet the needs of Illinois communities. Nearly all Midwest states have similar state-funded grant programs to grow the local food economy – and Illinois should follow suit! 2023 marked the first year of the program and Overall, 247 applications were submitted, worth more than $23.5 million in funding requests – more than 10 times the amount of money available to distribute this year – further emphasizing the importance of this program.