summary
Introduced
01/29/2025
01/29/2025
In Committee
04/29/2025
04/29/2025
Crossed Over
04/03/2025
04/03/2025
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Provides that in counties that did not have a Veterans Assistance Commission prior to January 1, 2026, and in which there exists a judicial circuit whose jurisdictional boundaries include multiple counties, veteran service organizations located within any of those counties that are within the judicial circuit's jurisdictional boundaries may come together and create a Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission that shall provide services to veterans and their families. Contains provisions concerning the selection process for Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission superintendents, delegates, and alternates; funding for Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commissions; mergers between existing county Veterans Assistance Commissions and Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commissions; and other matters. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act shall be interpreted to restrict any Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission from providing services to veterans and their families who reside outside of those participating counties. Amends the Counties Code. Permits each county that has a population of less than 3,000,000 and that is a participant in a Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission to levy a tax not to exceed .03% of the assessed value annually on all taxable property of the county for the purpose of providing assistance to military veterans and their families. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires a county that has a population of less than 3,000,000 and that is a participant in a Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission to levy, within the time that such levy is authorized to be made, a tax of an amount which, when added to the unobligated balance available for such purpose at the close of the preceding fiscal year, equals .02% of the last known assessed value of the taxable property in the county. Provides that the tax shall be for the purpose of providing assistance to military veterans and their families.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act to create a new option for establishing multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions in judicial circuits with multiple counties that do not currently have a Veterans Assistance Commission. Specifically, for counties within a judicial circuit that lack a Veterans Assistance Commission before January 1, 2026, veteran service organizations can collaborate to create a Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission that will serve veterans and their families across participating counties. Each participating county will be required to levy a minimum tax of 0.02% and deposit the proceeds in the county treasury to fund commission staff and provide financial assistance to veterans. The new commission will select a superintendent from among honorably discharged veterans in the participating counties and maintain a centrally located office (or multiple offices in large judicial circuits). The bill also allows existing Veterans Assistance Commissions in multi-county judicial circuits to merge as of January 1, 2025, while providing the option for some counties to remain independent. The goal is to expand and improve veteran services in areas that currently lack dedicated assistance commissions, ensuring more comprehensive support for veterans and their families across different counties within the same judicial circuit.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (25)
Stephanie Kifowit (D)*,
Jil Tracy (R)*,
Neil Anderson (R),
Li Arellano (R),
Chris Balkema (R),
Amy Briel (D),
Terri Bryant (R),
Andrew Chesney (R),
Mike Coffey (R),
John Curran (R),
Don DeWitte (R),
Dale Fowler (R),
Steve McClure (R),
Kyle Moore (R),
Jason Plummer (R),
Mike Porfirio (D),
Wayne Rosenthal (R),
Sue Scherer (D),
Kevin Schmidt (R),
Brandun Schweizer (R),
Mike Simmons (D),
Dan Swanson (R),
Dave Syverson (R),
Sally Turner (R),
Craig Wilcox (R),
Last Action
Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Donald P. DeWitte (on 03/10/2026)
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