SB1368 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)

MULTI-COUNTY VET ASSISTANCE
Last Action
7/02/2025 - Senate: Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
55 ILCS 5/3-9005  from Ch. 34, par. 3-9005
55 ILCS 5/5-2006  from Ch. 34, par. 5-2006
305 ILCS 5/12-3  from Ch. 23, par. 12-3
305 ILCS 5/12-21.5  from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.5
305 ILCS 5/12-21.13  from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.13
330 ILCS 45/1  from Ch. 23, par. 3081
330 ILCS 45/2  from Ch. 23, par. 3082
330 ILCS 45/4  from Ch. 23, par. 3084
330 ILCS 45/5  from Ch. 23, par. 3085
330 ILCS 45/8  from Ch. 23, par. 3088
330 ILCS 45/9  from Ch. 23, par. 3089
330 ILCS 45/10  from Ch. 23, par. 3090
730 ILCS 166/30  
730 ILCS 167/10  
730 ILCS 168/30  
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the Act to allow for the formation of multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions. Provides that veteran service organizations located in 2 or more adjacent counties having a population of 60,000 or less may enter into an agreement to come together and jointly form a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to serve the adjacent counties in accordance with the Act. Provides that a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission may also be formed under an agreement between an existing county Veterans Assistance Commission and a veteran service organization located in an adjacent county that is without a veterans assistance commission and has a population of 60,000 or less. Requires an agreement to form and maintain a multi-county Veterans Assistance Commission to set forth: (i) the distribution of funding with respect to each member county; (ii) the location of the Commission's office; (iii) the type of services provided; (iv) the superintendent selection or appointment process; (v) Commission rules and policies; and (vi) the composition of delegates and alternates on the Commission. Provides that multi-county Veterans Assistance Commissions shall have the same powers and duties under the Act as Veterans Assistance Commissions that serve one county. Makes corresponding changes in the Counties Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Drug Court Treatment Act, the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, and the Mental Health Court Treatment Act. Effective immediately.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
55 ILCS 5/3-9005  from Ch. 34, par. 3-9005
55 ILCS 5/5-2006  from Ch. 34, par. 5-2006
305 ILCS 5/12-3  from Ch. 23, par. 12-3
305 ILCS 5/12-21.5  from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.5
305 ILCS 5/12-21.13  from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.13
330 ILCS 45/1  from Ch. 23, par. 3081
330 ILCS 45/2  from Ch. 23, par. 3082
330 ILCS 45/4  from Ch. 23, par. 3084
330 ILCS 45/5  from Ch. 23, par. 3085
330 ILCS 45/8  from Ch. 23, par. 3088
330 ILCS 45/10  from Ch. 23, par. 3090
730 ILCS 166/30  
730 ILCS 167/10  
730 ILCS 168/30  
Adds reference to:
330 ILCS 45/9  from Ch. 23, par. 3089
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Provides that in counties that do 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 who reside in those participating counties. Contains provisions concerning the use of tax proceeds to hire Commission staff; the selection process for Commission superintendents, delegates, and alternates; mergers between existing county Veterans Assistance Commissions and jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commissions; and other matters.

House Floor Amendment No. 1
Adds reference to:
55 ILCS 5/5-2006  
305 ILCS 5/12-21.13  from Ch. 23, par. 12-21.13
330 ILCS 45/2  from Ch. 23, par. 3082
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. 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.
Actions
DateChamberAction
1/29/2025SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Jil Tracy
1/29/2025SenateFirst Reading
1/29/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
2/04/2025SenateAssigned to Veterans Affairs
2/06/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Terri Bryant
2/07/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jason Plummer
3/06/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Craig Wilcox
3/13/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Jil Tracy
3/13/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
3/18/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Veterans Affairs
3/19/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
3/19/2025SenateDo Pass as Amended Veterans Affairs; 008-000-000
3/19/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 20, 2025
4/01/2025SenateSecond Reading
4/01/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 2, 2025
4/03/2025SenateThird Reading - Passed; 054-000-000
4/03/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Chris Balkema
4/03/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Andrew S. Chesney
4/03/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve McClure
4/04/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons
4/04/2025HouseArrived in House
4/04/2025HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
4/07/2025HouseFirst Reading
4/07/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
4/14/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Li Arellano, Jr.
4/17/2025HouseAssigned to Veterans' Affairs Committee
4/29/2025HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Veterans' Affairs Committee; 015-000-000
4/30/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
5/07/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kyle Moore
5/15/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
5/15/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
5/16/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
5/16/2025HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
5/20/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Veterans' Affairs Committee
5/20/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Veterans' Affairs Committee; 015-000-000
5/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin Schmidt
5/22/2025HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted by Voice Vote
5/22/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/22/2025HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 113-000-000
5/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Swanson
5/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Wayne A. Rosenthal
5/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer
5/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel
5/22/2025HouseAlternate Chief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Sue Scherer
5/22/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel
5/22/2025SenateSecretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1
5/22/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 26, 2025
5/27/2025SenateHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Jil Tracy
5/27/2025SenateHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
6/30/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio
7/02/2025SenatePursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments
2/25/2026HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael J. Coffey, Jr.
3/03/2026SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dale Fowler
3/03/2026SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sally J. Turner
3/03/2026SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. John F. Curran
3/03/2026SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Dave Syverson
3/04/2026SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Neil Anderson
3/10/2026SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Donald P. DeWitte