Sen. Jil Tracy

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Blake Eugene Roderick, a prominent agricultural leader and community figure from Illinois who passed away in March 2026. The bill formally acknowledges his life achievements, including his long career managing farm bureaus and his extensive service on various civic boards and committees. It expresses the Senate's condolences to his surviving family members and directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to them as a gesture of sympathy.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 727 is a memorial resolution honoring Joe I. Conover, a resident of Quincy who passed away on March 22, 2026. The bill formally records the Senate's condolences and acknowledges Conover's life, which included a career in journalism, military service, and extensive community involvement in Quincy. It also notes his artistic achievements and recent donation of a harpsichord to John Wood Community College. The resolution concludes by directing that a copy be presented to his family as a symbol of sympathy.

Maddy summaryHJR 6 designates a specific section of Illinois Route 140. This portion of the highway, as it travels through Meadowbrook, will be officially named the "Cpl. Tommy N. Miller Memorial Highway" in honor of Cpl. Tommy N. Miller.

Declares May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month in the State of Illinois. Urges all Illinoisans to engage in supporting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.

Creates the Agricultural Land Conservation Act. Makes findings. Defines terms. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, a Farmland Conversion Fee shall be paid by the buyer or lessee in a transaction for any agricultural land that will be removed from production for the specific purpose to develop solar farms, wind farms, industrial parks, commercial areas, single and multiple family dwellings, or any other use that removes agricultural land from production, with certain requirements, of between $700 and $900 per acre, according to the amount of acres. Provides for certain exemptions. Provides for remittance to and collection by the Department of Revenue, with rulemaking required. Creates the Farmland Conversion Fee Fund as a special fund in the State treasury, with certain requirements. Provides that certain amounts must be expended from the Fund for certain purposes. Provides that all State real property being used in the commercial production of agricultural commodities shall use an established metric for the purpose of advancing adoption of conservation practices, with certain requirements. Effective immediately.

Declares March 2026 as Women's History Month in the State of Illinois. Honors the achievements and contributions of women throughout the State of Illinois, the United States, and the world. Encourages citizens to recognize and celebrate the women in their lives and communities whose dedication, service, and leadership strengthen our State and nation.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning energy storage systems, provides that the farmland drainage plan that a facility owner must file with a county shall include, among other things, plans to repair any subsurface drainage affected during construction or deconstruction using procedures outlined in the agricultural impact mitigation agreement (rather than outlined in the decommissioning plan) and procedures for the repair and restoration of surface drainage affected during construction or deconstruction. Provides that a county shall (rather than may) require a facility owner to provide a decommissioning plan to the county. Makes changes to the requirements of a decommissioning plan. Provides that a county shall (rather than may) require the facility owner to submit to the county (i) a commercial operation a commissioning report meeting specified requirements of specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association; (ii) a hazard mitigation analysis meeting specified requirements of specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association; (iii) an emergency operations plan meeting specified requirements of specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association; and (iv) a warning that complies with specified publications of the National Fire Protection Association. Provides that the energy storage system owner shall enter into one agricultural impact mitigation agreement for each energy storage system. Requires the agricultural impact mitigation agreement for an energy storage system to include specified plans. Requires a commercial renewable energy facility owner to make available a copy of the signed agricultural impact mitigation agreement at the site of the commercial renewable energy facility during any construction or deconstruction activities. Makes other changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate resolution honoring the life of Raymond Alfred "Ray" Scheiter Jr., a Quincy resident who passed away on March 16, 2026. The resolution formally expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his family and friends while acknowledging his achievements as an educator, coach, and community member. It also directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to Scheiter's family as a symbol of sympathy. The document does not create new laws or policy changes but serves as a commemorative tribute.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Buford M. Green, a Jacksonville-area journalist, educator, and sports figure who passed away on March 9, 2025. The bill formally expresses the Illinois Senate's condolences to his family and friends while recognizing his extensive career in journalism, his long tenure as a radio host, and his numerous hall of fame inductions in sports and education. A copy of the resolution will be presented to Green's family as a gesture of sympathy from the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors the memory of Robert Keith "Bob" Fair, a law enforcement officer and former sheriff of Cass County, Illinois, who passed away in 2026. The bill formally acknowledges his life and service, extending condolences to his surviving family members including his wife, children, and grandchildren. It directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to the Fair family as a symbol of sympathy from the Illinois Senate.