UPDATE: Statewide Urban Agriculture Zones - Contact Your State Reps!
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Nick Lucas
Apr 25, 2018, 12:54:43 PM4/25/18
to Advocates For Urban Agriculture
Good news! House Bill 3418 has passed out of committee and is now up for a full vote TODAY!
Let your legislators know how many citizens care about this issue! Find yours here: http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx
Thanks to the bill's champions State Rep. Sonya Harper, Grow Greater Englewood, The Illinois Environmental Council, Openlands, Chicago Food Policy Action Council, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and YOU! Onward and upward!
Let your legislators know how many citizens care about this issue! Find yours here: http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx
Thanks to the bill's champions State Rep. Sonya Harper, Grow Greater Englewood, The Illinois Environmental Council, Openlands, Chicago Food Policy Action Council, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and YOU! Onward and upward!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nick Lucas <outr...@auachicago.org>
Date: Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 9:59 PM
Subject: Your Support Requested: File a Witness Slip Today For Statewide Urban Agriculture Zones
To: Advocates For Urban Agriculture <advocates-for-u...@googlegroups.com>
Interested in advocating for legislation like this to YOUR/OUR local legislators? This Thursday, join AUA & Illinois Stewardship Alliance & Illinois Environmental Council for a day of lobbying legislators to support local food and farms! The day includes lobby training and a legislative update on the important bills. Please RSVP to me (for headcount purposes) if you're coming, and get all the details here: https://www.ilstewards.org/join-us-for-local-food-lobby-day-april-26th/
See you in Springfield this Thursday, Chicago!
From: Nick Lucas <outr...@auachicago.org>
Date: Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 9:59 PM
Subject: Your Support Requested: File a Witness Slip Today For Statewide Urban Agriculture Zones
To: Advocates For Urban Agriculture <advocates-for-u...@googlegroups.com>
Democracy works if we do: House Bill 3418, a bill AUA has collaborated on with State Rep. Sonya Harper and many of our Good Food Partners, will be heard today in committee! Please see the below synopsis and file a witness slip in support here: http://my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/Create/105190?committeeHearingId=15935&LegislationId=105190&LegislationDocumentId=142746&HCommittees4%2F30%2F2018-page=1&committeeid=0&chamber=H&nodays=7&_=1524516728899
"HB 3418 Amends the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code:
- Provides that a county or municipality may create an urban agricultural zones (UAZ) composed of organizations or persons who grow produce or other agricultural products; who raise livestock or poultry; who process livestock or poultry; or that sell a minimum of 75% locally grown food.
- Provides for the creation of a UAZ board to advise the county board, county board of commissioners, or corporate authorities of a municipality on UAZs.
- Provides for UAZ application requirements, including the number of jobs to be created, the types of products to be produced, and if applying for a vending UAZ, the ability to accept food stamps under the provisions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if selling products to consumers.
- Provides for county and municipal public hearing and notice requirements before adoption of an ordinance to establish a UAZ.
- Provides that property taxes on property located within a UAZ shall not be increased, if so provided in the UAZ ordinance, for a period of up to 25 years.
- Provides that sales tax amounts received from the sale of agricultural products sold in a UAZ shall be deposited in the Urban Agricultural Zone Fund and specifies distribution to the county, municipality, or school districts under specified circumstances.
- Allows for wholesale water rates and a reduction in water connection charges for property in a UAZ.
- Amends the State Finance Act making conforming changes."
The bill in its entirety is here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=3418&GAID=14&GA=100&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=105190&SessionID=91"HB 3418 Amends the Counties Code and Illinois Municipal Code:
- Provides that a county or municipality may create an urban agricultural zones (UAZ) composed of organizations or persons who grow produce or other agricultural products; who raise livestock or poultry; who process livestock or poultry; or that sell a minimum of 75% locally grown food.
- Provides for the creation of a UAZ board to advise the county board, county board of commissioners, or corporate authorities of a municipality on UAZs.
- Provides for UAZ application requirements, including the number of jobs to be created, the types of products to be produced, and if applying for a vending UAZ, the ability to accept food stamps under the provisions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if selling products to consumers.
- Provides for county and municipal public hearing and notice requirements before adoption of an ordinance to establish a UAZ.
- Provides that property taxes on property located within a UAZ shall not be increased, if so provided in the UAZ ordinance, for a period of up to 25 years.
- Provides that sales tax amounts received from the sale of agricultural products sold in a UAZ shall be deposited in the Urban Agricultural Zone Fund and specifies distribution to the county, municipality, or school districts under specified circumstances.
- Allows for wholesale water rates and a reduction in water connection charges for property in a UAZ.
- Amends the State Finance Act making conforming changes."
Interested in advocating for legislation like this to YOUR/OUR local legislators? This Thursday, join AUA & Illinois Stewardship Alliance & Illinois Environmental Council for a day of lobbying legislators to support local food and farms! The day includes lobby training and a legislative update on the important bills. Please RSVP to me (for headcount purposes) if you're coming, and get all the details here: https://www.ilstewards.org/join-us-for-local-food-lobby-day-april-26th/
See you in Springfield this Thursday, Chicago!
Nick Lucas
Programs Manager
Programs Manager
Advocates for Urban Agriculture
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