HB 1607 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

ELIMINATE FOOD DESERTS

Summary

Creates the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts Act. Establishes the Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for the purpose of reviewing the effectiveness of current State-led efforts to eliminate food deserts in Illinois and advising the General Assembly on policy, funding, initiatives, and best practices for the elimination of food deserts in Illinois. Describes the membership of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall convene at the call of the chairperson and meet as frequently as necessary to carry out its duties. Provides that the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission. Provides that commissioners shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose. Provides that the Commission shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2027, with annual addenda thereafter. Provides that the Act is repealed and the Commission is dissolved if 90% of food deserts in this State have been eliminated, with certain requirements. Defines terms.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Oct 2025

House Passage

Oct 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Dec 2025

Introduced Apr 8, 2025 Signed Dec 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 3 edits · Dec 12, 2025

MINOR

The bill was renamed from the 'Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts Act' to the 'Task Force on Eliminating Food Deserts Act,' and all references to 'Commission' or 'Commissioner' were updated to 'Task Force' or 'Task Force member.' The deadline for the initial report was extended from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028. Additionally, the threshold for county representation was adjusted to include counties with populations 'equal to or greater than' 1 million, whereas the previous version only included those with 'greater than' 1 million.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed by renaming the governing body from a Commission to a Task Force and adjusting the population threshold for county representation to include larger counties.

DEFINITION

The name of the legislative body was changed from 'Commission on Eliminating Food Deserts' to 'Task Force on Eliminating Food Deserts,' and all related terms were updated accordingly.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the Task Force to submit its initial report was extended from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2028.

ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility criteria for county representatives were changed to include counties with populations 'equal to or greater than' 1 million, expanding the pool of eligible counties compared to the previous 'greater than' 1 million requirement.

Introduced → Engrossed · 11 edits · Jun 1, 2025

MAJOR

The bill was moved from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to the Department of Public Health, which will now provide administrative support. The membership composition was significantly altered to include new representatives from aging services and labor, while the Lieutenant Governor no longer serves as chairperson. The bill also added a specific mechanism to automatically repeal the Act and dissolve the Commission once 90% of food deserts are eliminated.

Scope change

The primary scope change is the transfer of the Commission's home agency from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to the Department of Public Health, shifting oversight and administrative support responsibilities.

SCOPE

The Commission was moved from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to the Department of Public Health, which is now responsible for providing administrative support.

ELIGIBILITY

The chairperson role changed from the Lieutenant Governor to the Director of Public Health or their designee.

A new commissioner representing labor organizations was added to the Commission membership.

A new commissioner representing the Director of Aging or their designee was added to the Commission membership.

REQUIREMENT

The Commerce and Economic Opportunity representative was designated as a nonvoting, advisory member.

A new subsection (d) was added to clarify that the Department of Public Health provides administrative support.

The meeting schedule was updated to require convening at the chairperson's call and meeting as frequently as necessary.

New reporting requirements were added to specify that the report must include the number or amount of food deserts and address the Commission's specific purposes.

A new subsection (g) was added to require annual addenda noting the percentage of food deserts eliminated since the last report.

New subsection (h) was added to outline the specific steps the chairperson must take to file a declaration and notify officials when 90% of food deserts are eliminated.

A new Section 15 was added to formally repeal the Act and dissolve the Commission upon the conditions in Section 10(h).

Floor votes · Senate May 31, 2025 · House Apr 7, 2025

How they voted

54–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 58

May 31, 2025

D Democratic39

37 Yea 2

94% Yea

R Republican19

17 Yea 2

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Dec 12, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Approved

lower

Oct 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Both Houses

lower

Oct 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Oct 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Oct 16, 2025

Committee

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

lower

Oct 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Oct 16, 2025

Introduced

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

lower

Oct 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 005-000-000

lower

Jul 1, 2025

Committee

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

lower

Jun 1, 2025

Introduced

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

lower

Jun 1, 2025

Introduced

Arrived in House

lower

Jun 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading - Passed; 055-000-000

upper

May 31, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (54-0-4)

senate

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Public Health

upper

May 2, 2025

Committee

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments

upper

May 2, 2025

Introduced

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

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Committee

Assigned to Public Health

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Assignments

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Arrive in Senate

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Introduced

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

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Introduced

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

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

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

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules Committee

lower

2 primary · 24 co-sponsors