republic-os/legislation/us/states/il/97th/hb-5539.md

---
type: "Bill"
title: "AGRIC-FERTILIZER AND BLENDS"
description: "Amends the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961. Makes changes to the definitions. Provides for labeling requirements for fertilizers or custom blends. Provides that it shall be unlawful for misbranding or for the adulteration of a fertilizer within the State. Provides that the Director of the Department of Agriculture may refuse to register a fertilizer or cancel or suspend a fertilizer registration, custom blend, or fertilizer if certain specified claims are made. Permits the Director to issue and serve a written stop sale, stop use, or regulate removal upon an owner, operator, manager, or agent in charge of fertilizer. Creates the Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) for the purpose of pursuing nutrient research and providing educational programs to ensure the adoption and implementation of practices that optimize nutrient use efficiency, ensure soil fertility, and address environmental concerns with regard to fertilizer use. Provides that the Department has the authority to issue subpoenas, temporary restraining orders, preliminary or permanent injunctions against any person from violating or continuing to violate any provision of the Act. Provides for penalties based on type of violation. Repeals a provision concerning fund appropriations and seizure, condemnation, and sale of fertilizers. Makes other corresponding changes. Effective immediately."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "97th"
identifier: "HB 5539"
citation: "Illinois HB 5539 (97th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 30
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2012-02-14"
last_action: "2012-08-15"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/aa3da1ea-7dd1-4e4f-ad61-bd09dacc3f1d"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5539&GAID=11&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=65993&SessionID=84&GA=97"
source_hash: "15133e4bb5d15e52469ae036ea04bd1b65da574ea35aa2a632ad139070a34537"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 5539 (97th) — AGRIC-FERTILIZER AND BLENDS

Amends the Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961. Makes changes to the definitions. Provides for labeling requirements for fertilizers or custom blends. Provides that it shall be unlawful for misbranding or for the adulteration of a fertilizer within the State. Provides that the Director of the Department of Agriculture may refuse to register a fertilizer or cancel or suspend a fertilizer registration, custom blend, or fertilizer if certain specified claims are made. Permits the Director to issue and serve a written stop sale, stop use, or regulate removal upon an owner, operator, manager, or agent in charge of fertilizer. Creates the Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) for the purpose of pursuing nutrient research and providing educational programs to ensure the adoption and implementation of practices that optimize nutrient use efficiency, ensure soil fertility, and address environmental concerns with regard to fertilizer use. Provides that the Department has the authority to issue subpoenas, temporary restraining orders, preliminary or permanent injunctions against any person from violating or continuing to violate any provision of the Act. Provides for penalties based on type of violation. Repeals a provision concerning fund appropriations and seizure, condemnation, and sale of fertilizers. Makes other corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700HB5539&GA=97&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=65993&DocNum=5539&GAID=11&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700HB5539eng&GA=97&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=65993&DocNum=5539&GAID=11&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700HB5539enr&GA=97&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=65993&DocNum=5539&GAID=11&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **84–22** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **50–6** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Lisa M. Dugan — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2012-02-14** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Lisa M. Dugan `filing`
- **2012-02-15** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2012-02-15** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2012-02-21** Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee `referral-committee`
- **2012-02-28** Do Pass / Short Debate Agriculture & Conservation Committee; 013-001-000 `committee-passage`
- **2012-02-29** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2012-02-29** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Biss
- **2012-02-29** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore
- **2012-02-29** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jim Sacia
- **2012-02-29** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Wayne Rosenthal
- **2012-03-06** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2012-03-06** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2012-03-07** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca
- **2012-03-08** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 084-022-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2012-03-21** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2012-03-21** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading `reading-1`
- **2012-03-21** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Frerichs
- **2012-03-21** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2012-03-21** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2012-04-11** Assigned to Agriculture and Conservation `referral-committee`
- **2012-04-18** Do Pass Agriculture and Conservation; 007-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2012-04-18** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 19, 2012
- **2012-05-02** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2012-05-02** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 3, 2012
- **2012-05-22** Third Reading - Passed; 050-006-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2012-05-22** Passed Both Houses
- **2012-06-20** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2012-08-15** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2012-08-15** Effective Date August 15, 2012
- **2012-08-15** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0960 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/aa3da1ea-7dd1-4e4f-ad61-bd09dacc3f1d`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).