Peoria Standard

Illinois state Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) successfully got legislation approved, allowing for cottage food operations and residents to grow their own gardens and food without being prohibited from the Illinois Senate. 

Both of Sen. Koehler's bills further expand and build on the legislation of the original cottage foods law passed by Koehler in 2012, a release from Sen. Koehler's office said. 

“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are looking to become more self-sufficient and exploring new hobbies,” Koehler said in an April 26 Facebook post. “This legislation would protect the rights of people who want to grow their own food to feed themselves and their families."

The first proposal, Senate Bill 170, stated that cities and municipalities are not allowed to prohibit private residents from growing vegetable gardens based on the singular fact that they are vegetable gardens. Gardens can still be regulated based on zoning and building code ordinances, Koehler's release said. 

Senate Bill 2007 deals with permits for cottage food operations, or an operation acting as a vendor that prepares items in a home kitchen to be later sold. The legislation allows for cottage food operations to further expand their sales to online platforms as well as at "farmers' markets, fairs, festivals and public events." 

However, cottage food operations would be required to submit recipes and food safety plans to local public health departments to be permitted to sell their products, the release said. 

Both bills will now go onto the House for further consideration and possible acceptance.