State Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason) successfully advanced Senate Bill 2372 out of the Senate Agriculture Committee today, taking an important step toward addressing the challenges young and prospective farmers face when trying to access farmland in Illinois.

Senate Bill 2372 creates the Farmland Transition Commission Act, establishing a commission within the Illinois Department of Agriculture to study the barriers individuals ages 25 through 40 encounter when purchasing or accessing farmland. The Commission will review existing policies and incentives and make recommendations to improve farmland transfer opportunities for current and aspiring farmers.

Under the legislation, the Farmland Transition Commission will be composed of key agricultural leaders, policymakers, and young farmers from across Illinois. The Commission will meet quarterly and submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly, providing policy recommendations to assist young farmers in acquiring farmland. The Commission will dissolve on December 31, 2031.

Senate Bill 2372 now advances to the full Senate for further consideration.