Harper Legislation Aims to Make Farm Ownership More Accessible in Illinois

CHICAGO – Committed to strengthening Illinois’ farming community, state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, is pushing a bill that would make it easier for residents to pursue their dream of owning a farm.

“Many Illinoisans dream of owning a farm, but too often that dream does not come to fruition due to limited resources,” Harper said. “We want to change that by creating opportunities that help people, regardless of their socioeconomic background, take meaningful steps toward farm ownership.”

Harper has introduced House Bill 4590, which would create the Illinois Down Payment Assistance Grant Program. Administered by the Department of Agriculture, the program would provide eligible first-time farm buyers with grants of up to $20,000 to help cover their down payments. If the number of applicants exceeds the available funding, recipients would be selected through a random lottery. The Department of Agriculture will establish rules to ensure that the process is fair and transparent.

“This is about more than uplifting farmers today, it's about taking action now to foster a strong and resilient farming community that will sustain our agriculture sector for years to come,” Harper said. “I look forward to doing everything in my power to advance this legislation.”