ILLINOIS PROMOTION-CONVENTIONS

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4973

Introduced , by Rep. Dave Vella

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 665/8a

from Ch. 127, par. 200-28a
30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new
30 ILCS 105/6z-149 new

Amends the Illinois Promotion Act. Provides that the Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity may issue competitive grants with
initial terms of 10 years for the purpose of administering an incentive
program that will attract or retain conventions, meetings, sporting
events, and trade shows in Illinois with the goal of increasing business or
leisure travel to and within the State. Amends the State Finance Act.
Establishes the Tourism Incentive Grant Program Fund as a special fund in
the State treasury. Provides that, on July 1, 2026, and every July 1
thereafter, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller
shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the sum of $5,000,000
from the General Revenue Fund to the Tourism Incentive Grant Program Fund.
Effective immediately.
LRB104 17417 HLH 30842 b

A BILL FOR

HB4973
LRB104 17417 HLH 30842 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 Illinois Promotion Act is amended by
5
changing Section 8a as follows:

6

(20 ILCS 665/8a)

(from Ch. 127, par. 200-28a)
7

Sec. 8a.
Tourism grants and loans.
8

(1) The Department is authorized to make grants and loans,
9
subject to appropriations by the General Assembly for this
10
purpose from the Tourism Promotion Fund, to counties,
11
municipalities, other units of local government, local
12
promotion groups, not-for-profit organizations, or for-profit
13
businesses for the development or improvement of tourism
14
attractions in Illinois. Individual grants and loans shall not
15
exceed $1,000,000 and shall not exceed 50% of the entire
16
amount of the actual expenditures for the development or
17
improvement of a tourist attraction. Agreements for loans made
18
by the Department pursuant to this subsection may contain
19
provisions regarding term, interest rate, security as may be
20
required by the Department and any other provisions the
21
Department may require to protect the State's interest.
22

(2) From appropriations to the Department from the State
23
CURE fund for this purpose, the Department shall establish

HB4973
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LRB104 17417 HLH 30842 b
1
Tourism Attraction grants for purposes outlined in subsection
2
(1). Grants under this subsection shall not exceed $1,000,000
3
but may exceed 50% of the entire amount of the actual
4
expenditure for the development or improvement of a tourist
5
attraction, including, but not limited to, festivals.
6
Expenditures of such funds shall be in accordance with the
7
permitted purposes under Section 9901 of the American Rescue
8
Plan Act of 2021 and all related federal guidance.
9

(3) Subject to appropriation, the Department is authorized
10
to issue competitive grants with initial terms of up to 5 years
11
for the purpose of administering an incentive program that
12
will attract or retain conventions, meetings, sporting events,
13
and trade shows in Illinois with the goal of increasing
14
business or leisure travel.
15

(4) Beginning July 1, 2026, subject to appropriation, the
16
Department is authorized to issue competitive grants with
17
initial terms of 10 years for the purpose of administering an
18
incentive program that will attract or retain conventions,
19
meetings, sporting events, and trade shows in Illinois with
20
the goal of increasing business or leisure travel to and
21
within the State. The Department shall provide for a new grant
22
award of available funds under this item (4) once every 3
23
years. An event shall not be considered ineligible for grant
24
funding under this item (4) if multiple Illinois destinations
25
are in competition for the same event. Room night credits that
26
are actualized, contracted, revenue-generating group room

HB4973
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LRB104 17417 HLH 30842 b
1
nights directly sourced by the grantee must exceed 200 for
2
outside of the City of Chicago and 5,000 within the City of
3
Chicago. The maximum amount awarded to entities outside the
4
City of Chicago is $1,000,000 in each grant award cycle. To be
5
eligible for grant funding under this item (4), an applicant
6
must be a certified convention and visitors bureau, a unit of
7
local government, a local promotion group, a not-for-profit
8
organization, a for-profit organization, or a convention
9
center authority. If applicants are in a service area covered
10
by a certified convention and visitors bureau, the application
11
must include a letter of support from the certified convention
12
and visitors bureau. Grant funding under this item (4) may be
13
awarded to a joint effort between a certified convention and
14
visitors bureau and another eligible entity. If the applicant
15
intends to implement its program jointly with the certified
16
convention and visitors bureau, the application should submit
17
a letter of intent from the bureau providing details of the
18
joint effort.

19
(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-287, eff. 8-6-21;
20
102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

21

Section 10.
The State Finance Act is amended by adding
22
Sections 5.1038 and 6z-149 as follows:

23

(30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new)
24

Sec. 5.1038.
The Tourism Incentive Grant Program Fund.

HB4973
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LRB104 17417 HLH 30842 b
1

(30 ILCS 105/6z-149 new)
2

Sec. 6z-149.
Tourism Incentive Grant Program Fund;
3
creation.
4

(a) The Tourism Incentive Grant Program Fund is created as
5
a special fund in the State treasury. Money in the Tourism
6
Incentive Grant Program Fund shall be used, subject to
7
appropriation, for grants as provided in item (4) of Section
8
8a of the Illinois Promotion Act.

9

(b) On July 1, 2026, and every July 1 thereafter, or as
10
soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall
11
direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the sum of
12
$5,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Tourism
13
Incentive Grant Program Fund.

14

Section 99.
Effective date.
This Act takes effect upon
15
becoming law.

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