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HB4971 - 104th General Assembly

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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.
LRB104 17636 KTG 31067 b

A BILL FOR

HB4971
LRB104 17636 KTG 31067 b
1

AN ACT concerning State government.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

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

6

(5 ILCS 490/166 new)
7

Sec. 166.
Illinois Veterans' Legacy Day.
April 9 of each
8
year is designated as Illinois Veterans' Legacy Day, to be
9
observed throughout the State as a day to recognize and honor
10
the service and sacrifice of Illinois' military veterans with
11
suitable activities designed to teach and preserve Illinois'
12
military history and build social connections between
13
Illinois' veterans population and school-aged youth,
14
including, but not limited to, veterans' speaking engagements
15
with students at local elementary, middle, and high schools,
16
and volunteer activities for students in the maintenance and
17
upkeep of outdoor war and veterans' memorials and monuments.

18

Section 10.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
19
amended by adding Section 45 as follows:

20

(20 ILCS 2805/45 new)
21

Sec. 45.
Statewide military history initiative.

HB4971
- 2 -
LRB104 17636 KTG 31067 b
1

(a) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall develop and
2
implement a statewide military history initiative aimed at
3
preserving Illinois' war and veterans' memorials, monuments,
4
plaques, and historic sites.
5

The Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Fund
6
is created as a special fund in the State treasury to support
7
the preservation and restoration of outdoor memorials,
8
monuments, plaques, and historic sites located within the
9
State that highlight the service and sacrifice of Illinois'
10
military veterans. The Fund shall consist of any moneys
11
appropriated to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the
12
preservation of Illinois' military history and monuments as
13
well as any gifts, private donations, or other resources made
14
to the Department for the purposes of this subsection. Subject
15
to appropriation, moneys in the Fund shall be expended to
16
provide grants to local governments, historic societies, and
17
veterans' organizations seeking to restore, repair, or
18
maintain a war or veterans' memorial, monument, plaque, or
19
historic site within their community. The Department of
20
Veterans Affairs shall establish criteria on how to identify
21
war and veterans' memorials, monuments, plaques, and historic
22
sites that are in need of preservation or restoration or other
23
forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of
24
funding based on the scope of the preservation or restoration
25
project and on the grant applicant's ability to carry out and
26
complete the project.

HB4971
- 3 -
LRB104 17636 KTG 31067 b
1

The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement
2
the military history initiative and grant program under this
3
subsection.
4

(b) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall create and
5
maintain a digital archive of Illinois veterans' records,
6
letters, and oral histories and make such materials readily
7
accessible to the general public and local schools. The
8
Department shall partner with State colleges and universities
9
to collect and preserve personal documents, photos, and
10
interviews with Illinois veterans who served in the armed
11
forces of the United States during World War II or during any
12
subsequent period of time of armed hostilities in which the
13
United States was engaged, including present conflicts.

14

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

16

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.214 new)
17

Sec. 2-3.214.
Teaching modules on Illinois' military
18
history.
The State Board of Education shall prepare and make
19
available to all school boards teaching modules on Illinois'
20
military history for public school students enrolled in grades
21
6 through 12. The State Board of Education shall seek input
22
from veterans' groups when developing the teaching modules.

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