(The Center Square) – Democratic state lawmakers want to pass a plethora of bills that spend taxpayer dollars on grant programs to make food more accessible.
Legislators are looking to pass Senate Bill 3219 to provide grants for equipment upgrades to grocers. Senate Bill 2209 would establish a grant program offering up to $7,500 per school site to initiate Breakfast After the Bell programs. Senate Bill 1931 would provide free breakfast and lunch to all Illinois students attending public and private K-12 schools.
State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said his bill, Senate Bill 3077, would require the Illinois Department of Agriculture to administer grants to enhance food processing and distribution. When asked why small farmers can’t afford things on their own without the grants, he said his bill would provide an opportunity to diversify agriculture.
“Small family farms are just asking for
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