In the final days of the spring session, the Illinois State Fairgrounds Foundation bill may have gained a new life, but it's likely hit a few snags, too.

"The Foundation bill got derailed," said Illinois Director of Agriculture Director Raymond Poe to the audience at the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable last week.

Originally introduced in March, the bill would have created the Illinois State Fairgrounds Foundation, which would allow private grants and donations, and grants from the federal government, for the purpose of supporting ground maintenance of the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair – and at a higher level than state government is allowed to do now.

SNAG IN SPRINGFIELD: "The Foundation bill got derailed," said Illinois Director of Agriculture Director Raymond Poe to the audience at last week's Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable.

The bill failed to gain traction and in the final days of the spring session, Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, proposed an amendment that would both reopen the Illinois State Museum and remove an excemption to the "procurement code," according to Russell Orrill, assistant director of state legislation, Illinois Farm Bureau.

The Illinois State Museum closed October 1, 2015, due to state funding issues.

Related: New bill would create Illinois State Fairgrounds foundation

 "During the last few days of session, it's common for bills to gain more language," Orrill explained. "So if there is language in a bill that wouldn't pass on its own, sometimes they will be lumped together in an effort to gain additional support."

Although spring session ended on May 31, Illinois legislators agreed to meet every Wednesday in June. Orrill stated legislators may address the new bill during the weekly meetings.

FUNDS NEEDED: The Illinois State Fairgrounds Foundation, which would allow private grants and donations, and grants from the federal government, for the purpose of supporting ground maintenance of the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair. Director Poe said both fairgrounds need about $180 million in maintenance.

Rebecca Clark, communications director for the Illinois Department of Agriculture, said both the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources "stand opposed to HB 5783 due to procurement language in the bill."

What's procurement language? Essentially, the state procurement process can drive up the cost of a project, in some cases tripling the cost and also doubling the length of time it takes to complete a project. Manar's office said procurement code is designed to ensure money is spent in an efficient way and is not advantageous to any particular group.

The original bill, filed by Sen. Bill Brady, R-District 44,  in the Senate and Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield,  in the House, included language that would exempt privately funded projects from the state procurement process.

Poe has been a long-time backer of a fairgrounds foundation, dating to his legislative days. He explained that both grounds need about $180 million worth of back maintenance, and the Illinois State Fair alone brings in $86 million to the Springfield area.

"It's the cheapest buy we make all year," Poe added.

Related: Q&A: Raymond Poe talks fairs and foundations