SPRINGFIELD — In response to a sudden halt in federal agriculture funding under the Trump administration, Illinois lawmakers are advancing two state bills to support small farmers and improve access to local food. One bill, HB 3701, would direct state institutions to buy more food from local producers, shifting away from the current system that favors the lowest bidder, often large out-of-state suppliers. The other, HB 2196, would make it easier for small poultry farmers to sell self-processed chicken by raising the cap on on-farm processing from 5,000 to 7,500 birds. Both measures have passed committee and await further action, as supporters try to fill the gap left by nearly $18 million in lost federal reimbursements.
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