104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3682
 
Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Mike Simmons
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2805/45 new
    Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Task Force on Federal Impact to Illinois Veterans is created within the Department of Veterans Affairs to include the feedback, experiences, and guidance from veterans throughout Illinois on the state of existing veteran programming, resources, housing, and healthcare. Provides that the Task Force shall also analyze the current state of staff and funding changes to the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, in conjunction with the impact federal funding cuts to social services enacted by the Department of Government Efficiency and through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have on the over 500,000 veterans living in Illinois. Provides that the Task Force shall also assess ways that the State of Illinois can assist Illinois veterans expected to lose their jobs within the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, as well as veterans impacted by cuts to entitlement programs, including, but not limited to, SNAP, Medicaid, and federal tax credits. Contains provisions on Task Force membership and meetings. Provides that the Task Force may allow testimony from the public regarding the impact of federal cuts on veterans. Requires the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December December 15, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on January 31, 2028. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is 
5amended by adding Section 45 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/45 new)
7    Sec. 45. Task Force on Federal Impact to Illinois 
8Veterans.
9    (a) The Task Force on Federal Impact to Illinois Veterans 
10is created within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The 
11purpose of the Task Force is to include the feedback, 
12experiences, and guidance from veterans throughout Illinois on 
13the state of existing veteran programming, resources, housing, 
14and healthcare, as well as analyze the current state of staff 
15and funding changes to the U.S. Department of Veterans' 
16Affairs, in conjunction with the impact federal funding cuts 
17to social services enacted by the Department of Government 
18Efficiency and through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public 
19Law 119-21, have on the over 500,000 veterans living in 
20Illinois.
21    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways that the 
22State of Illinois can assist Illinois veterans expected to 
23lose their jobs within the U.S. Department of Veterans' 
 
 
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1Affairs, as well as veterans impacted by cuts to entitlement 
2programs, including, but not limited to, SNAP, Medicaid, and 
3federal tax credits.
4    (b) The Task Force shall have 12 members, comprised as 
5follows:
6        (1) the Director of Veterans Affairs;
7        (2) the Chairperson of the Senate Veterans Affairs 
8    Committee or his or her designee;
9        (3) the Chairperson of the House Veterans' Affairs 
10    Committee or his or her designee;
11        (4) 3 representatives from a variety of veterans 
12    organizations, appointed by the Director of Veterans 
13    Affairs; and
14        (5) 6 veterans representing the geographic diversity 
15    in the State, appointed by the Director of Veterans 
16    Affairs.
17    (c) Task Force members shall serve without compensation.
18    (d) The Task Force shall meet initially at the call of the 
19Director of Veterans Affairs. The Director or the Director's 
20designee shall serve as chairperson of the Task Force. For 
21every meeting after the initial meeting, the Task Force shall 
22meet at the call of the chairperson.
23    (e) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide 
24administrative support to the Task Force.
25    (f) The Task Force may allow testimony from the public 
26regarding the impact of federal cuts on veterans.
 
 
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1    (g) All findings and recommendations made by the Task 
2Force must be reported to the Governor and the General 
3Assembly by December 15, 2027.
4    (h) The Task Force is dissolved, and this Section is 
5repealed, on January 31, 2028.
 
6    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
7becoming law.