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Illinois: HB1607

Illinois Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts

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Bill Information

MAHA Approved

Summary

Bill Summary

Illinois HB1607 establishes the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to review and assess current state efforts to address food deserts across Illinois. The Commission will comprise representatives from state agencies, local government, agriculture, food retail, nonprofits, and residents of food desert communities. The Commission is tasked with submitting a comprehensive report to the Governor and General Assembly by January 1, 2027, with annual updates thereafter, detailing findings and recommending policy, funding, and best practices to eliminate food deserts. The Act includes a sunset provision under which the Commission dissolves and the legislation repeals once 90 percent of food deserts in Illinois have been eliminated, subject to specified requirements.


Why It Matters to MAHA

This bill advances health freedom and patient autonomy by directly addressing a structural barrier to accessing healthy food—food deserts represent a regulatory and infrastructure failure that limits consumer choice and access to nutritious alternatives. By establishing a commission focused specifically on eliminating food deserts, Illinois acknowledges that access to real, whole foods is foundational to health and should not be restricted by geography or economic circumstance. MAHA supports this initiative because improving access to affordable, nutritious food is essential infrastructure for health freedom; it enables patients and families to make informed dietary choices without being forced into dependence on processed, nutrient-poor alternatives. The commission's emphasis on studying and recommending best practices aligns with MAHA's commitment to transparency and evidence-based policy solutions that expand rather than restrict consumer options.

Introduced

01/23/2025

In Committee

07/01/2025

Crossed Over

04/07/2025

Passed

12/12/2025

Enacted

12/12/2025

Sponsors

Sonya Harper

Democratic Representative (IL)

Mattie Hunter

Democratic Senator (IL)

Edgar González

Democratic Representative (IL)

La Shawn Ford

Democratic Representative (IL)

Carol Ammons

Democratic Representative (IL)

Yolonda Morris

Democratic Representative (IL)

Camille Lilly

Democratic Representative (IL)

Michael Crawford

Democratic Representative (IL)

Debbie Meyers-Martin

Democratic Representative (IL)

Sharon Chung

Democratic Representative (IL)

Joyce Mason

Democratic Representative (IL)

Maurice West

Democratic Representative (IL)

Norma Hernandez

Democratic Representative (IL)

Nick Smith

Democratic Representative (IL)

Lilian Jiménez

Democratic Representative (IL)

Kevin Olickal

Democratic Representative (IL)

Marcus Evans

Democratic Representative (IL)

Chris Welch

Democratic Representative (IL)

Kevin Schmidt

Republican Representative (IL)

Justin Slaughter

Democratic Representative (IL)

Gregg Johnson

Democratic Representative (IL)

Lisa Davis

Democratic Representative (IL)

Nicolle Grasse

Democratic Representative (IL)

Dave Koehler

Democratic Senator (IL)

Mike Porfirio

Democratic Senator (IL)

Graciela Guzmán

Democratic Senator (IL)

Rachel Ventura

Democratic Senator (IL)

Activity

03/17/2026

Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura

12/12/2025

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0447

12/12/2025

Effective Date June 1, 2026

12/12/2025

Governor Approved

11/21/2025

Sent to the Governor

10/28/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse

10/28/2025

Passed Both Houses

10/28/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 093-019-000

10/16/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 005-000-000

10/16/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee

10/16/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Sonya M. Harper

10/16/2025

Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1

10/16/2025

Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 005-000-000

07/01/2025

Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

06/01/2025

Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1

06/01/2025

Arrived in House

06/01/2025

Third Reading - Passed; 055-000-000

06/01/2025

3/5 Vote Required

05/23/2025

Rule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025

05/15/2025

Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán

05/14/2025

Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio

05/14/2025

Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 15, 2025

05/14/2025

Second Reading

05/14/2025

Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler

05/07/2025

Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 8, 2025

05/07/2025

Do Pass as Amended Public Health; 008-000-000

05/06/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted

05/06/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Public Health

05/06/2025

Public Health Committee Hearing (13:00:00 5/6/2025 Room 400)

05/02/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments

05/02/2025

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Mattie Hunter

05/02/2025

Senate Amendment 001 - Senate Amendment 001

04/29/2025

Postponed - Public Health

04/29/2025

Public Health Committee Hearing (14:00:00 4/29/2025 Room 400)

04/23/2025

Assigned to Public Health

04/08/2025

Referred to Assignments

04/08/2025

First Reading

04/08/2025

Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter

04/08/2025

Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

04/08/2025

Arrive in Senate

04/07/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis

04/07/2025

Removed Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris

04/07/2025

Chief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Yolonda Morris

04/07/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson

04/07/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter

04/07/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris

04/07/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt

04/07/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 095-009-000

04/07/2025

Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

04/07/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted

04/07/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted

03/26/2025

Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

03/26/2025

Second Reading - Short Debate

03/25/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 009-000-000

03/25/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 008-000-000

03/25/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

03/25/2025

Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing (14:00:00 3/25/2025 Room 115)

03/24/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch

03/24/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee

03/24/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

03/24/2025

House Amendment 003 - House Amendment 003

03/19/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

03/19/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal

03/19/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez

03/19/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicholas K. Smith

03/18/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

03/18/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

03/18/2025

Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing (14:00:00 3/18/2025 Room 115)

03/13/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

03/13/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

03/13/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez

03/13/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II

03/13/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason

03/13/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung

03/13/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin

03/13/2025

Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

03/13/2025

House Amendment 002 - House Amendment 002

03/12/2025

Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 009-000-000

03/12/2025

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Agriculture & Conservation Committee; by Voice Vote

03/12/2025

Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis

03/12/2025

Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons

03/12/2025

Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

03/12/2025

Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Edgar González, Jr.

03/12/2025

Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing (14:00:00 3/12/2025 Room D-1 Stratton Building)

03/11/2025

Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing (14:00:00 3/11/2025 115 and Virtual Room 4)

03/10/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

03/05/2025

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

03/04/2025

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

03/04/2025

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

03/04/2025

Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing (14:00:00 3/4/2025 Room 115)

03/04/2025

House Amendment 001 - House Amendment 001

02/26/2025

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

02/25/2025

Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing (14:00:00 2/25/2025 Room 115)

02/18/2025

Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

01/28/2025

Referred to Rules Committee

01/28/2025

First Reading

01/23/2025

Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

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