HB5653 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OMB104 00214 DSF 10214 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5653

Introduced 2/19/2026, by Rep. Robyn Gabel

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows:

General Funds $123,805,089
Other State Funds $131,666,257
Federal Funds $2,691,400
Total $258,162,746

AN ACT concerning appropriations.

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

ARTICLE 1

Section 5. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, for the objects and purposes hereinafter named, are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs:

CENTRAL OFFICE For Personal Services.............................8,116,900 For State Contributions to Social

Security...........................................620,900 For Operational Expenses of Central Office,

including prior years' costs.....................3,697,600 For Expenses Related to the Security and Safety

Enhancements at Illinois Veterans Homes..........1,050,000 For Expenses Related to the Agency's Diversity, Equity,

Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiatives...........300,000

Total $13,785,400

Section 10. The sum of $2,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the State Facility Repair and Maintenance Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for repairs, maintenance, and other permanent improvements.

Section 15. The sum of $796,200, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for all costs associated with the Veterans Accountability Unit.

Section 20. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the objects and purposes and in the amounts set forth as follows:

GRANTS-IN-AID For Warrior Assistance Program......................150,000 For Bonus Payments to War Veterans

and Peacetime Crisis Survivors.....................198,000 For Providing Educational Opportunities for

Children of Certain Veterans, as provided

by law, including Prior Years' Claims..............500,000 For Cartage and Erection of Veterans' Headstones,

including Prior Years' Claims......................425,000

Total $1,273,000

Section 25. The sum of $3,500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of scholarships to students who are dependents of Illinois resident military personnel declared to be prisoners of war, missing in action, killed or permanently disabled, as provided by law.

Section 30. The amount of $2,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for making grants, funding additional services, or conducting additional research projects relating to veterans' post traumatic stress disorder; veterans' homelessness; the health insurance cost of veterans; veterans' disability benefits, including but not limited to, disability benefits provided by veterans service organizations and veterans assistance commissions or centers; and the long-term care of veterans.

Section 35. The amount of $340,357, or so much thereof as may be necessary and remains unexpended at the close of business on June 30, 2026, from an appropriation heretofore made for such purpose in Article 68, Section 35 of Public Act 104-0003, as amended, is reappropriated from the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for making grants, funding additional services, or conducting additional research projects relating to veterans' post traumatic stress disorder; veterans' homelessness; the health insurance cost of veterans; veterans' disability benefits, including but not limited to, disability benefits provided by veterans service organizations and veterans assistance commissions or centers; and the long-term care of veterans.

Section 40. The following named amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the object and purpose and in the amount set forth as follows: For Specially Adapted Housing for Veterans..........240,000

Section 45. The amount of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of benefits authorized under the Survivors Compensation Act.

Section 50. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for objects and purposes hereinafter named:

VETERANS FIELD SERVICES Payable from the General Revenue Fund: For Personal Services.............................6,317,200 For State Contributions to

Social Security....................................483,300 For Operational Expenses of Veterans Field

Services, including prior years' costs...........2,201,900

Total $9,002,400

Section 55. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the objects and purposes hereinafter named:

ILLINOIS VETERANS HOME AT ANNA Payable from General Revenue Fund: For Personal Services.............................5,375,000 For State Contributions to

Social Security....................................411,200 For Operational Expenses of Anna Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs.................995,200

Total $6,781,400 Payable from Anna Veterans Home Fund: For Personal Services.............................1,719,200 For State Contributions to the State

Employees' Retirement System.......................747,100 For State Contributions to

Social Security....................................131,600 For Operational Expenses of Anna Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs...............4,709,300 For Permanent Improvements...........................50,000 For Refunds..........................................30,000

Total $7,387,200

Section 60. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the objects and purposes hereinafter named:

ILLINOIS VETERANS HOME AT QUINCY Payable from General Revenue Fund: For Personal Services............................25,308,100 For State Contributions to

Social Security..................................1,936,100 For Operational Expenses of Quincy Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs...............5,771,900

Total $33,016,100 Payable from Quincy Veterans Home Fund: For Personal Services............................21,336,400 For Member Compensation..............................28,000 For State Contributions to the State

Employees' Retirement System.....................9,271,800 For State Contributions to

Social Security..................................1,632,300 For Operational Expenses of Quincy Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs..............17,635,200 For Permanent Improvements..........................750,000 For Refunds..........................................70,000

Total $50,723,700

Section 65. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the objects and purposes hereinafter named:

ILLINOIS VETERANS HOME AT LASALLE Payable from General Revenue Fund: For Personal Services............................10,093,900 For State Contributions to Social Security..........772,200 For Operational Expenses of LaSalle Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs...............1,503,200

Total $12,369,300 Payable from LaSalle Veterans Home Fund: For Personal Services............................10,088,300 For State Contributions to the State

Employees' Retirement System.....................4,383,900 For State Contributions to

Social Security....................................771,800 For Operational Expenses of LaSalle Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs...............5,059,300 For Permanent Improvements..........................250,000 For Refunds..........................................30,800

Total $20,584,100

Section 70. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the objects and purposes hereinafter named:

ILLINOIS VETERANS HOME AT MANTENO Payable from General Revenue Fund: For Personal Services............................22,353,400 For State Contributions to

Social Security..................................1,710,100 For Operational Expenses of Manteno Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs...............5,580,800

Total $29,644,300 Payable from Manteno Veterans Home Fund: For Personal Services............................15,484,700 For Member Compensation...............................5,000 For State Contributions to the State

Employees' Retirement System.....................6,728,900 For State Contributions to

Social Security..................................1,184,600 For Operational Expenses of Manteno Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs...............9,944,900 For Permanent Improvements..........................500,000 For Refunds.........................................100,000

Total $33,948,100

Section 75. The following named amounts, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for costs associated with the operation of a program for homeless veterans at the Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno: Payable from General Revenue Fund...................968,800 Payable from the Manteno

Veterans Home Fund.................................201,500

Total $1,170,300

Section 80. The following named amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the objects and purposes hereinafter named:

ILLINOIS VETERANS HOME AT CHICAGO Payable from General Revenue Fund: For Operational Expenses of Chicago Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs..............11,731,900

Total $11,731,900 Payable from the Illinois Veterans' Homes Fund: For Operational Expenses of Chicago Veterans

Home, including prior years' costs..............13,591,300 For Permanent Improvements..........................300,000

Total $13,891,300

Section 85. The following named amount, or so much thereof as may be necessary, respectively, are appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the objects and purposes hereinafter named:

STATE APPROVING AGENCY Payable from GI Education Fund: For Operational Expenses of the State Approving

Agency, including prior years' costs.............2,691,400

Total $2,691,400

Section 90. The amount of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the Folds of Honor Foundation Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for grants to aid in providing educational scholarships to military families.

Section 95. The sum of $936,289, or so much thereof as may be necessary and remains unexpended at the close of business on June 30, 2026, from a reappropriation heretofore made for such purpose in Article 68, Section 90 of Public Act 104-0003, as amended, is reappropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for costs associated with dental care for veterans in the five state-run veterans homes.

Section 100. No contract shall be entered into or obligation incurred or any expenditure made from any appropriation herein made in Section 10 of this Article until after the purpose and amounts have been approved in writing by the Governor.

Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026.