SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) was signed into law Friday expanding the venues where home-cooked food operations may sell their products.

“Especially in light of hardships faced across the state due to the pandemic, we need to be expanding opportunities for Illinoisans to create extra income, not limiting them,” Koehler said. “If even one family is more able to make ends meet as a result of this legislation, it will have served its purpose."

Cottage food operations are vendors that prepare products in a home kitchen. Senate Bill 2007 permits cottage food operations to sell their products at farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals or public events, as well as online. This legislation would require these entrepreneurs to submit recipes and food safety plans to local public health departments in order to be permitted to sell their products to the public. It also sets a framework for the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide statewide guidance on how to regulate cottage foods to local health departments.

“Not only does this law have the potential to increase income for families here in Illinois, it will help us preserve the history of our communities as well,” Koehler said. “Many of the recipes used by these home cooks may have been passed down for generations, and we want to ensure that they are able to share that bit of history.”

The law will go into effect January 1, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that extends the timeline on two tax increment financing districts in the City of Peoria, as well as several others throughout the state, was signed into law Friday.

“When we invest in our cities, we invest directly in our residents,” Koehler said. “Pieces of legislation like this one offer a second chance to those areas that have not seen investment or growth in far too long.”

The City of Peoria currently has two active TIF districts, set to expire December 31, 2030 and December 31, 2031. This legislation would extend the expiration of all TIF districts from 23 to 35 years, meaning that Peoria's districts would expire in 2042 and 2043. TIF districts are areas within cities designated for improvement, with specific criteria that must be met to qualify. The designated district reallocates funds from property taxes in an effort to bring in new investment. Other Illinois cities that will also benefit from TIF extensions are Effingham, Polo, Bellwood, Joliet, Chicago, Plainfield, Springfield, Cahokia, Charleston, Beardstown, Cicero, East St. Louis, Gardner and East Peoria.

“Encouraging new investment in these areas means that the City of Peoria will be strong and dynamic for years to come,” Koehler said.

Senate Bill 1822 will take effect immediately.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal has opened the application period for the Small Equipment Grant Program. All interested departments should send an application to the OSFM, applications must be postmarked no later than October 22, 2021. OSFM will award $2.5 million to eligible fire departments and ambulance services during this application period.

The Small Equipment Grant Program was established to provide grants of up to $26,000 for the purchase of small firefighting and ambulance equipment. A total of $3.3 million was awarded to 149 fire departments/districts and EMS providers across the state in June.

Fire department, fire protection districts and township fire department applicants are required to have participated in the National Fire Incident Reporting System for a minimum of two years prior to applying. The OSFM will require departments to be current through June 2021 for this grant period.

Learn more about the grant here. Apply here.

Email the State Fire Marshal's office with any questions or concerns.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that would waive trapping license requirements for disabled veterans, returning service members and those who are terminally ill was signed into law Friday.

“Our servicemen and women have sacrificed so much for all of us, and it is our duty to do anything we can to show them that we remember and appreciate that sacrifice,” Koehler said. “This is one small way we can make their lives easier.”

Senate Bill 1533, an initiative of the Illinois Trappers' Association, would issue free trapping licenses to the terminally ill, disabled veterans, and returning service members. This would permit these populations use designated devices to remotely catch game animals. The legislation also allows an electronic copy of an existing license to be shown on a phone or mobile device in lieu of a paper copy.

The law will go into effect immediately.