SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) passed two measures out of the Illinois Senate that would help protect and promote people’s right to grow and produce their own food.

Senate Bill 170 specifies that cities and municipalities cannot prohibit residents from growing vegetable gardens solely on the basis that they are vegetable gardens.

“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are looking to become more self-sufficient and exploring new hobbies,” Koehler said. “This legislation would protect the rights of people who want to grow their own food to feed themselves and their families.”

Towns, cities, and villages would still be able to regulate gardens and garden structures based on zoning and building code ordinances. However, they simply cannot single out vegetable gardens and related structures when passing regulations.

The other piece of legislation, Senate Bill 2007, permits cottage food operations to sell their products at farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals or public events, and additionally allows online sales. A cottage food operation is a vendor that prepares products in a home kitchen rather than a commercial kitchen. The legislation would require vendors to submit recipes or food safety plans to local public health departments to be allowed to sell their products.

“Especially in light of the financial hardships many families have faced because of the pandemic, we should be doing everything we can to help create more income opportunities,” Koehler said. “This legislation has the potential to benefit many families in the area and around the state.”

The proposal builds on the original cottage foods law passed by Koehler in 2012.

Both measures now go to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – A piece of 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 passed out of the Senate and advanced to the House on Thursday.

“This legislation is one small way that we can convey to our servicemen and women that we are grateful for the sacrifices they have made,” Koehler said. “It is always a pleasure to bring bills before my colleagues that give back to those who have given so much for us.”

Senate Bill 1533 would issue free trapping licenses to the terminally ill, disabled veterans, and returning service members. 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 legislation will now go before the House Rules Committee.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) announced on Thursday afternoon that a $10 million grant from the Illinois Capital Development Board would be dedicated to launching Distillery Labs, the Peoria hub of the Illinois Innovation Network.

“This grant is very exciting news for the Peoria area and all of Central Illinois,” Koehler said. “This hub is certain to become a social and economic boon to our community, and I know that the Innovation Network will benefit as well from this partnership with Peoria.”

This funding comes as a part of a second wave of grants through Governor JB Pritzker’s bipartisan capital plan. The grant will facilitate the purchase and renovation of the Thomas Building in downtown Peoria, where labs, classrooms and offices will be established with a goal of improving the wellness of underserved populations and advancing systems related to food, farming and transportation.

“Illinois is a pillar in the United States’ research community, and the Peoria area is proud to play a part in upholding that reputation,” Koehler said. “I’m grateful to Governor Pritzker and CDB for this investment in our community, and I know that that this local hub of the Innovation Network will benefit families in the Peoria area for years to come.”

SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday morning, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) held a press conference alongside State Representative Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly to discuss his legislation to modernize Firearms Owner Identification cards in Illinois.

“Our goal is to ensure that we are keeping firearms out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves and others,” Koehler said. “Our goal is not, however, to hassle safe, responsible gun owners. Through the modernization and streamlining of the FOID card process, I believe we can successfully accomplish both of our objectives.”

Senate Bill 1165, an initiative of the ISP, would create a prohibited persons portal to help law enforcement identify people whose FOID cards have been revoked, create a review board to respond to revocations and denials, and make other significant changes to make the process more efficient.

“Again and again, we see we should be using less of our resources on an antiquated, outdated, inefficient, ineffective renewal process from the 1960s and more on enforcement against real threats to public safety,” said ISP Director Brendan Kelly. “Our people believe in building a system that makes it hard for the bad guys and simple and safe for the good guys, but we need authority from the legislature to untangle, streamline and integrate the aging patchwork of FOID, concealed carry, and background checks if we are going to fulfill this mission.”

This legislation has been assigned to the Senate Executive Committee.