IPHA Advocacy Alert

IPHA Advocacy Alert

WITNESS SLIPS NEEDED - HB1052 Food Truck Freedom

House Bill 1052 will be heard in the House Public Health Committee tomorrow, 2/26/26, at 8:00 AM.

House Bill 1052 (Rep. Vella) Creates the Food Truck Freedom Act. Provides that a municipality, county, or township may create a license or permitting scheme for a food truck to operate within its jurisdiction. Provides that a food truck license or permit obtained from a municipality, county, or township in Illinois has full force and effect in all other jurisdictions in Illinois so long as that license or permit was issued after: (1) an inspection by a local health department that uses recommendations made by the Food and Drug Administration concerning food trucks and (2) an inspection by a local fire department that uses recommendations made by the National Fire Prevention Association concerning food trucks. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a municipality, county, or township from imposing placement or zoning restrictions or fees so long as those restrictions and fees are uniformly applied to all food trucks, regardless of the food truck's license or permit jurisdiction. Defines "food truck". Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2026.

The Illinois Public Health Association, as well as local health departments, have raised concerns about this bill and its impact on our communities and food safety. Read our background statement here.

The food truck industry has come out in full force to support this legislation. As of this morning, there are more than 3 times as many witness slips supporting this bill as opposing it.

Please consider slipping in opposition to this bill by 11:59 PM. Witness slips can be submitted here.

Feel free to share this alert with colleagues and friends of public health. Thank you for your support!

If you have questions, please contact Conny Moody, IPHA Government Relations and Compliance, at [email protected] or email [email protected].