IL HB 4849, the Farmer Tax Benefit Act, creates a powerful new Illinois income tax credit to encourage landowners—especially farmers—to permanently protect their land through conservation. Taxpayers can apply to the Department of Natural Resources for a credit equal to either 100% of the fair market value of a donated permanent land protection agreement (such as a conservation easement) or 50% of the fair market value of a donated fee simple or remainder interest in qualified real property given to an eligible conservation agency. The credit is subject to annual caps of 7.5 million statewide and 500,000 per landowner, is based on a qualified appraisal, can be carried forward for up to five years, and may be transferred to another taxpayer, with rules to prevent double‑claiming on the same donation. The bill also amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to integrate this new, conservation‑focused incentive into state tax law.
Why It Matters to MAHA
The Make America Healthy Again Movement supports IL HB 4849 because it directly incentivizes permanent protection of farmland, open space, and natural areas that underpin resilient local food systems and healthy environments. By making it financially realistic for working farmers and other landowners to donate conservation agreements or property interests, the bill helps keep productive land in agriculture, safeguard wildlife habitat and water quality, and resist sprawling development—all conditions MAHA views as essential for long‑term access to real, nutrient‑dense food and outdoor activity space. Strengthening conservation incentives for farmers also supports rural economies and preserves land for future generations, aligning with MAHA’s broader goal of building healthier communities from the ground up.