by Kyla Asbury | Feb 12, 2019

Rep. Stephanie A. Kifoweit (D-Aurora) introduced a bill created to drive business for hydroponics on Feb. 1 to the House of Representatives.

The bill's first reading was Feb. 1 and it was then referred to the Rules Committee.

House Bill 1636 amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act and provides that businesses that intend to establish a newly qualified hydroponics facility or expand their current qualified facilities to include hydroponics will be considered "high-impact businesses."

High-impact businesses can lose their designation if they fail to comply with a set of terms and conditions in the bill. High-impact businesses are those intending to make a minimum investment of $12 million and plan to create 500 full-time jobs involving hydroponics, according to the bill.

The bill doesn't state what "high-impact" businesses actually mean, other than the amount of money they make or employees they will have. The bill doesn't state why it is needed.

High-impact businesses will receive tax credits, according to the bill. Hydroponics is the method of growing plants and produce using only water with mineral nutrients and without soil.

The bill, if passed, is effective immediately.