HB4971 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17636 KTG 31067 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4971

Introduced , by Rep. Dave Vella

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 490/166 new
20 ILCS 2805/45 new
105 ILCS 5/2-3.214 new

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a statewide military history initiative aimed at preserving Illinois' war and veterans' memorials, monuments, plaques, and historic sites. Creates the Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Fund as a special fund in the State treasury to support the preservation and restoration of outdoor memorials, monuments, plaques, and historic sites located within the State that highlight the service and sacrifice of Illinois' military veterans. Provides that, subject to appropriation, moneys in the Fund shall be expended to provide grants to local governments, historic societies, and veterans' organizations seeking to restore, repair, or maintain memorials, monuments, plaques, or historic sites within their communities. Requires the Department to establish criteria on how to identify war and veterans' memorials, monuments, plaques, and historic sites that are in need of preservation or restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding based on the scope of the preservation or restoration project and on the grant applicant's ability to carry out and complete the project. Requires the Department to create and maintain a digital archive of Illinois veterans' records, letters, and oral histories and make such materials readily accessible to the general public and local schools. Requires the Department to partner with State colleges and universities to collect and preserve personal documents, photos, and interviews with Illinois veterans. Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Designates April 9 of each year as Illinois Veterans' Legacy Day to be observed throughout the State as a day to recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of Illinois' military veterans with suitable activities designed to teach and preserve Illinois' military history and build social connections between Illinois' veterans population and school-aged youth. Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to all school boards teaching modules on Illinois' military history for public school students enrolled in grades 6 through 12.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Commemorative Dates Act is amended by adding Section 166 as follows:

(5 ILCS 490/166 new)

Sec. 166. Illinois Veterans' Legacy Day. April 9 of each year is designated as Illinois Veterans' Legacy Day, to be observed throughout the State as a day to recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of Illinois' military veterans with suitable activities designed to teach and preserve Illinois' military history and build social connections between Illinois' veterans population and school-aged youth, including, but not limited to, veterans' speaking engagements with students at local elementary, middle, and high schools, and volunteer activities for students in the maintenance and upkeep of outdoor war and veterans' memorials and monuments.

Section 10. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is amended by adding Section 45 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/45 new)

Sec. 45. Statewide military history initiative.

(a) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement a statewide military history initiative aimed at preserving Illinois' war and veterans' memorials, monuments, plaques, and historic sites.

The Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury to support the preservation and restoration of outdoor memorials, monuments, plaques, and historic sites located within the State that highlight the service and sacrifice of Illinois' military veterans. The Fund shall consist of any moneys appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the preservation of Illinois' military history and monuments as well as any gifts, private donations, or other resources made to the Department for the purposes of this subsection. Subject to appropriation, moneys in the Fund shall be expended to provide grants to local governments, historic societies, and veterans' organizations seeking to restore, repair, or maintain a war or veterans' memorial, monument, plaque, or historic site within their community. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall establish criteria on how to identify war and veterans' memorials, monuments, plaques, and historic sites that are in need of preservation or restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding based on the scope of the preservation or restoration project and on the grant applicant's ability to carry out and complete the project.

The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement the military history initiative and grant program under this subsection.

(b) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall create and maintain a digital archive of Illinois veterans' records, letters, and oral histories and make such materials readily accessible to the general public and local schools. The Department shall partner with State colleges and universities to collect and preserve personal documents, photos, and interviews with Illinois veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States during World War II or during any subsequent period of time of armed hostilities in which the United States was engaged, including present conflicts.

Section 15. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.214 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.214 new)

Sec. 2-3.214. Teaching modules on Illinois' military history. The State Board of Education shall prepare and make available to all school boards teaching modules on Illinois' military history for public school students enrolled in grades 6 through 12. The State Board of Education shall seek input from veterans' groups when developing the teaching modules.