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Director Terry Prince

Recent Legislation

Veteran/Military Legislation

State of Illinois General Assembly

Inclusion of legislation in this report is for informational purposes only. Inclusion does not imply endorsement of, support of, or opposition to any particular piece of legislation by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

102nd Illinois General Assembly – legislation passed in the 2021 Spring Legislative Session:

These links are the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees bill lists:

Senate

http://ilga.gov/senate/committees/combills.asp?CommitteeID=2155

House

http://ilga.gov/house/committees/combills.asp?CommitteeID=1913&GA=100

Bills:
House Bill 20 – Gold Star License Plates – Family Members

HB 20 provides that no registration fee for a Gold Star license plate shall be required of a surviving widow, widower, or parent of a deceased member of the Armed Forces if that member lost his or her life while in service while in wartime.
House Bill 282 - Veterans' Assistance Commission – Legal opinions from County State's Attorneys

Provides that, in a county with less than 2,000,000 people, and upon receipt of a written request by the superintendent of the county Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC)
House Bill 1290

HB 1290 expands the state definition of honorable discharge to include veterans who were discharged due to sexuality or gender identity.
House Bill 1815 – Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force

In 2019, the Illinois General Assembly created the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force. The sponsor wished to make changes to the leadership before the task force started.
House Bill 1915 – Decals for Illinois License Plates

HB 1915 allows the IDVA to create Fold of Honor decals for Illinois license plates.
House Bill 2776 - Professional license applications

HB 2776 requires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to expedite professional license applications submitted by service members or their spouses within thirty days of receiving all required documentation.
House Bill 2894 – Veterans' Gardening Day

HB 2894 designates the first Saturday in May as Veterans Gardening Day. The day will be used to honor and commemorate Illinois veterans.
House Bill 3255 – Veteran Service Officers – Job Requirements

House Bill 3255 requires all DVA service officers and supervisors within the field division be honorably discharged and modifies statutory language to be gender neutral.
House Bill 3515

This law allows that if a post, camp, unit, chapter, ship, or detachment of a military veterans organization serves more than one county.
House Bill 3865 – Consumer Protection

HB 3865 establishes additional consumer protections to protect service members and veterans.
House Resolution 62

HR 62 Directs the Illinois Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of the State's response to the management of the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans' Home.
Senate Bill 505 – State Flag and Illinois National Guard

SB 505 amends the military code, allowing family members or next of kin to be presented with a state flag in the event a member of the Illinois National Guard dies while on state active duty or in training status under the authority of the Governor.
Senate Bill 687 – Small Business

SB 687 is a procurement-related bill that requires the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) to submit an annual report concerning certifications issued to veteran-owned small businesses.
Senate Bill 1533 – Veteran Trapping License Exemption

SB 1533 allows a veteran who is certified by DVA to be at least 10% disabled or who is in receipt of total disability pension to trap, as permitted by the Code, without procuring a trapping license.
Senate Bill 2089 – Display of flags at State parks

SB 2089 requires the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fly a United States flag, an Illinois Flag, and a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag at all State parks within five years.