IL HB2475

Creates the Illinois Natural Resources and Agricultural Legacy Fund as a special fund in the State treasury managed by the Department of Natural Resources to provide grants to qualified easement holders for purchasing conservation easements on farmland and open space, acquisition costs, and ecological management activities

Limits ecological management and maintenance grants to no more than 25% of annual grant funds through fiscal year 2030, caps Department administrative costs at 10% of annual appropriations, and restricts grants where the Department is the easement holder to 40% of total awarded dollars annually

Establishes grant prioritization criteria including preventing farmland fragmentation, leveraging federal/local/private funding, supporting historically underserved farmers (new, beginning, socially disadvantaged, veteran, or low-income farmers), protecting biodiversity and wildlife habitat, and preserving Illinois Natural Area Inventory sites

Creates the Legacy Act Technical Advisory Committee chaired by the Director of Agriculture with 8 members including representatives from family farms, agricultural organizations, land trusts, educational institutions, soil and water conservation districts, and land use planning professionals

Repeals the existing Local Legacy Act and amends the State Finance Act to formally establish the new fund