MATERNAL NUTRITION PROGRAM

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4991

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HB4991 - 104th General Assembly

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4991

Introduced , by Rep. Rita Mayfield

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 205/205-455 new

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative
Code of Illinois. Creates the Farmer-Direct Maternal Nutrition Program to
provide grants or contracts to farmers for growing, aggregating, and
distributing healthy food to eligible expectant mothers within 75 miles of
the farm. Establishes eligibility based on income, participation in SNAP
or WIC, or referral by a health care provider or social service agency.
Authorizes partnerships with community organizations and health
facilities. Requires coordination with other State agencies, outreach,
rulemaking, and annual reporting to the General Assembly beginning in
2028. Effective immediately.
LRB104 20161 BDA 33612 b

A BILL FOR

HB4991
LRB104 20161 BDA 33612 b
1

AN ACT concerning State government.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 5.
The Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil
5
Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section
6
205-455 as follows:

7

(20 ILCS 205/205-455 new)
8

Sec. 205-455.
Farmer-Direct Maternal Nutrition Program.
9

(a) The Department shall adopt rules establishing the
10
Farmer-Direct Maternal Nutrition Program. Subject to
11
appropriation, the Program under this Section shall provide
12
grants or contracts to farmers to grow, aggregate, and
13
distribute healthy food from the farmer's farm to eligible
14
expectant mothers who reside within 75 miles of the farmer's
15
farm. The purposes of the Program under this Section are to
16
improve maternal and fetal health and reduce food insecurity
17
during pregnancy, as well as to support family-owned small and
18
midsize farms and socially disadvantaged farmers in the State.
19
The Department may operate the Program statewide and may phase
20
implementation to prioritize areas with higher rates of food
21
insecurity or adverse maternal health outcomes.
22

(b) The Department shall adopt rules establishing
23
eligibility for the Program under this Section and, at a

HB4991
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LRB104 20161 BDA 33612 b
1
minimum, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) and the
2
stated purposes of the Program under this Section, limit
3
eligibility to expectant mothers who are residents of the
4
State and who demonstrate need based on:
5

(1) the expectant mother's family income is at or
6

below 80% of the area median family income, as reported in
7

the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) published
8

by the United States Bureau of the Census;
9

(2) the expectant mother participates in the
10

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special
11

Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
12

Children (WIC), or any other need-based public assistance
13

program; or
14

(3) the expectant mother is referred to the program
15

based on evidence of need by a health care provider or
16

social service agency.
17

(c) The Department may distribute food through local
18
farmers directly and through partners, including
19
community-based organizations, federally qualified health
20
centers, hospitals, clinics, home-visiting programs, and local
21
health departments.

22

(d) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of
23
Human Services, the Department of Public Health, and other
24
relevant agencies to avoid duplication and maximize access,
25
and may align eligibility screening with existing maternal and
26
child health programs.

HB4991
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LRB104 20161 BDA 33612 b
1

(e) The Department shall conduct outreach to inform
2
expectant mothers and health care providers about the
3
availability of the Program under this Section.
4

(f) The Department shall adopt rules to implement and
5
administer this Section, including rules establishing
6
allowable costs under grants or contracts under the Program
7
and establishing priorities with respect to farms, farmers,
8
and food that are consistent with the stated purposes of the
9
Program under this Section.

10

(g) The Department may collect de-identified data on
11
participation and distribution to assess the performance of
12
the Program under this Section. Beginning March 1, 2028, and
13
annually thereafter, the Department shall submit a report to
14
the General Assembly summarizing Program operations during the
15
previous calendar year, including the number of participants
16
served, amounts and types of healthy foods distributed,
17
participating farms, geographic coverage, and outcomes and
18
recommendations.

19

Section 99.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect upon
20
becoming law.

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