SPRINGFIELD — Illinois conservation leaders are ramping up pressure on state lawmakers ahead of the May 31 budget deadline, warning that growing development pressures, farmland loss, flooding, and water quality concerns are stretching local conservation programs thin across the state.

The push comes as a House budget committee is expected to consider House Bill 4755 Wednesday afternoon in Springfield. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Chung, would provide $10 million in funding for Illinois’ 97 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, commonly known as SWCDs.

Conservation advocates say the funding would help stabilize local offices that work directly with farmers and communities on erosion prevention, flooding mitigation, soil health, and water quality improvement projects.

“This is really about protecting Illinois’ future,” said Eliot Clay, executive director of the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts, or AISWCD. “Communities across Illinois are dealing with increasing pressure on farmland, water resources, and local infrastructure.”

AISWCD leaders say local conservation districts have struggled for years with limited operational funding. According to the organization, statewide SWCD operations funding has remained around $4.5 million annually in recent years — or roughly $40,000 per district each year.

Supporters say HB 4755 is closely tied to a broader conservation funding discussion taking place at the Capitol surrounding Senate Bill 4044, sponsored by Sen. David Koehler.

That proposal would create the Agricultural Land Conservation Act and establish a one-time fee on farmland converted to non-agricultural development such as industrial projects, residential construction, renewable energy facilities, or commercial expansion. Revenue generated would help fund conservation programs and SWCD operations statewide.

AISWCD officials emphasized the fee would only apply once at the time farmland is permanently converted and would not affect ongoing agricultural operations.

The debate comes as Illinois continues losing large amounts of farmland to development. Clay told lawmakers during recent Senate testimony that Illinois lost more than 75,000 acres of productive farmland to development in FY25 alone.

AISWCD President Dale Shumaker said the state is facing growing environmental pressures ranging from flooding to nutrient runoff and drinking water concerns.

“SWCDs are the conservation delivery system in Illinois,” Shumaker said in prepared remarks to lawmakers.

Supporters of both measures say lawmakers have only a few weeks remaining to determine whether conservation funding becomes part of the final state budget package before adjournment at the end of May.