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Rauner signs two bills to supporting Illinois farmers

On Saturday, August 25th at the DuQuoin State Fair, Governor Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2298: the Industrial Hemp Act. Co-sponsored by Representative Dan Swanson, the act adds Illinois to a growing number of state that permit growth of hemp as paper, fabric-making, biodegradable plastics, construction materials and health food. Industrial hemp is not the same as marijuana, and will have measures established for THC-level testing by the state Department of Agriculture. Before signing, Rauner said he wants to make sure Illinois farmers can compete and grow within their product distribution. “We want to make sure Illinois farmers are competitive and can grow their families and their businesses as they see fit,” Rauner said. “We are now removing the restrictions on industrial hemp. We’re going to allow our farmers to grow industrial hemp wherever they would like to in the state of Illinois. (It’ll) create more income, more growth, more farm opportunities, and a better future for our families.”  In May, Swanson said industrial hemp “gives us another opportunity as a farmer to diversify another crop.” The Act is effective immediately and creates a state licensure program through the Department of Agriculture that enables those who desire to grow the crop to do so.Rauner also signed House Bill 5749 which allows farmers to seek and obtain annual permits through the Illinois Department of Transportation to exceed gross axle and gross vehicle weight limits by no more than 10 percent. Permits are expected to cost approximately $500 and will go into effect in July of 2019.

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