410 ILCS 705/7-20: Fee waivers.

(a) For Social Equity Applicants and any dispensing organization issued an adult use dispensing organization license pursuant to a lottery conducted under subsection (c) of Section 15-35.20 of this Act, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture shall waive 50% of any nonrefundable license application fees, any nonrefundable fees associated with purchasing a license to operate a cannabis business establishment, and any surety bond or other financial requirements, provided a Social Equity Applicant meets the following qualifications at the time the payment is due:

(1) the applicant, including all individuals and entities with 10% or greater ownership and all parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates, has less than a total of $750,000 of gross income in the previous calendar year; and

(2) the applicant, including all individuals and entities with 10% or greater ownership and all parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates, has no more than 2 other licenses for cannabis business establishments in the State of Illinois.

(b) The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Department of Agriculture may require Social Equity Applicants to attest that they meet the requirements for a fee waiver as provided in subsection (a) and to provide evidence of annual total income in the previous calendar year.

(c) If the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or the Department of Agriculture determines that an applicant who applied as a Social Equity Applicant is not eligible for such status, the applicant shall be provided an additional 10 days to provide alternative evidence that he or she qualifies as a Social Equity Applicant. Alternatively, the applicant may pay the remainder of the waived fee and be considered as a non-Social Equity Applicant. If the applicant cannot do either, then the Departments may keep the initial application fee and the application shall not be graded.

(d) The Department of Agriculture shall provide hardship waivers for craft grower, infuser, and transporter license and renewal fees due to the Department pursuant to the following:

(1) The craft grower, infuser, and transporter organization attests that the craft grower, infuser, and transporter organization or applicant for renewal, including all individuals and entities with 10% or greater ownership and all parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates, have no more than 2 other licenses for cannabis business establishments in the State.

(2) For craft grower, infuser, and transporter organizations that have a total of $50,000 or less of reported gross income for the prior fiscal year, the Department shall waive the full license or renewal fee. The craft grower, infuser, and transporter organization shall verify its income to the Department.

(3) For craft grower, infuser, and transporter organizations that have a gross income of more than $50,000 and less than or equal to $750,000, the Department shall waive 50% of the full license or renewal fee. The craft grower, infuser, and transporter organization shall verify its income to the Department.