Sangamon Sun

On April 23, 2025, three Illinois House Republicans and family farmers convened at the Capitol to advocate for legislative measures aimed at aiding the state's agriculture sector. State Representatives Dan Swanson (R-Alpha), Jason R. Bunting (R-Emington), and Wayne Rosenthal (R-Morrisonville) introduced bills they assert will bolster family farms across Illinois.

Dan Swanson, representing the sixth generation of his family farm in Alpha, Illinois, has proposed HB 1501. This legislation would provide an income tax credit for owners of agricultural assets who sell or lease to new farmers. "There are young people in Illinois right now who want to get started in farming, but don’t always have the opportunity," Swanson stated. "We need to get that next generation up and running in agriculture. Unfortunately, my bill wasn’t called before the required deadline. We need to get serious about preserving the future of agriculture in Illinois."

Jason R. Bunting, managing a family farm in rural Livingston County, highlighted the perils that farmers face. His proposal, House Resolution 29, seeks to establish September 15-21, 2025, as Farm Safety Week. He also introduced HB 3204 and HB 3205 to extend Scott’s Law provisions to farm vehicles. "My bill would require drivers to make room for farm equipment on the roads so they can safely pass the equipment," Bunting explained. "This legislation would make the road safer for farmers, and for every other Illinoisan who drives the rural roads of this state, so that we can all make it home safely to our families."

Wayne Rosenthal, a former Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director, called for raising the Illinois estate tax exemption. He believes this change is crucial to prevent double taxation on family farms. "I know first-hand what this unfair estate tax means to my family and to every other family farm in Illinois," Rosenthal remarked. "This isn’t just a tax, it’s a threat to our way of life. Too often, I have heard from families, friends, and neighbors who have been hit hard by this unfair tax. Illinois estate taxes are levied on farm owners when they pass on. Unlike monetary assets that can be moved, land cannot, so our family farms are penalized. Illinois has not adjusted the estate tax on farmland in more than a decade. Inflation has risen, and we haven’t made the necessary changes to our estate tax. We still have time to fix this problem this Session, we need to get to work so we can save Illinois family farms."