SB2387 creates the Agricultural Land Conservation Act, a new Illinois law aimed at slowing the loss of farmland and generating funding for conservation programs. Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill would impose a Farmland Conversion Fee on buyers or lessees when agricultural land is taken out of production for development such as solar farms, wind farms, industrial parks, commercial uses, or residential development. The fee is set on a tiered per-acre basis: $900 per acre for up to 10 acres, $800 per acre for more than 10 but less than 30 acres, and $700 per acre for 30 acres or more.
The bill also creates the Farmland Conversion Fee Fund in the State treasury. Fee revenue would be collected by the Department of Revenue and used by the Department of Agriculture for soil health, clean water, climate-smart agriculture education, operations funding for Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and administrative costs. The bill requires annual distributions of at least $17.5 million to Soil and Water Conservation Districts, $2 million to the Department of Labor, and $1 million to the Department of Revenue, with remaining funds available for the Act’s purposes. It also directs State agricultural land to use an established metric to encourage conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till, nutrient management, buffers, wetlands, and related erosion- and water-quality-improving practices.
In terms of state law impact, SB2387 would add a new fee structure and administrative program affecting land transactions that convert farmland to non-agricultural uses. It would expand the Department of Revenue’s collection role, require rulemaking, create a dedicated special fund, and establish ongoing spending obligations from that fund. It would also impose a conservation-practice framework on State-owned or State-leased agricultural property, including land under lease with the Department of Natural Resources.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented debate or formal voting history to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a farmland preservation and conservation funding proposal, with an emphasis on protecting agricultural land, supporting local conservation districts, and addressing environmental and climate-related concerns. The overall tone of the bill is policy-driven and protective of farmland, but the fee on land conversion suggests it could draw concern from developers, renewable energy interests, and property owners affected by the added cost of converting land out of agricultural use.
The main points of contention are likely to center on the new per-acre fee, who bears the cost, and whether the fee could discourage solar, wind, housing, or commercial development on farmland. Supporters would likely emphasize farmland preservation, soil and water conservation funding, and the need to stabilize conservation district staffing. Opponents may argue that the bill increases development costs, could slow renewable energy siting or housing expansion, and may be seen as a broad tax on land conversion rather than a targeted conservation tool.
SB2387 would create a new chapter of Illinois law governing agricultural land conversion, impose a new fee on certain farmland-to-nonfarm conversions, and establish a dedicated fund for conservation-related spending. It would directly affect buyers and lessees converting farmland, the Department of Revenue’s collection and rulemaking responsibilities, the Department of Agriculture’s distribution of funds, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and State agencies managing agricultural property.
No committee discussion or vote history is available, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment from hearings or floor action. From the bill text, the measure is clearly pro-conservation and pro-farmland preservation, with a policy rationale focused on protecting agricultural land, funding local conservation infrastructure, and supporting climate-smart practices. At the same time, the structure of the fee suggests likely resistance from development, energy, and land-use stakeholders who would face added costs.
The likely controversy is over the Farmland Conversion Fee itself: whether charging $700 to $900 per acre is an appropriate conservation mechanism or an excessive burden on land conversion. Developers, renewable energy projects, and housing interests may object to the added cost and possible effect on project feasibility, while farmland preservation advocates and conservation groups are likely to support the fee as a way to discourage unnecessary conversion and fund conservation programs. Another possible point of debate is the required annual funding allocations from the new fund, especially the guaranteed distributions to Soil and Water Conservation Districts and state agencies.