104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1882 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Recreates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417 and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. Requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately. LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1882 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Recreates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417 and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. Requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately. LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1882 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Recreates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417 and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. Requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately. LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b A BILL FOR HB1882LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882 LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882 LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 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 Department of Veterans' Affairs Act is 5 amended by adding Section 38.1 as follows: 6 (20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new) 7 Sec. 38.1. Veterans' Services Task Force. 8 (a) The Task Force created by Public Act 101-225 and 9 repealed on December 31, 2023 is recreated as the Veterans' 10 Services Task Force. The Task Force shall review and make 11 recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments 12 that are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans 13 Affairs, including exploring why certain service-related 14 ailments are not recognized and determining what may be done 15 to have them recognized. 16 Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State 17 of Illinois can improve the rate at which disability 18 compensation claims are approved by the federal government and 19 correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans 20 Affairs' approval of disability compensation for Illinois 21 veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other 22 states. 23 (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1882 Introduced , by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Recreates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417 and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. Requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately. LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b A BILL FOR 20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882 LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882- 2 -LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882 - 2 - LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882 - 2 - LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b 1 follows: 2 (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the 3 Director's designee. 4 (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives, 5 appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the 6 House Minority Leader. 7 (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the 8 President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader. 9 (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of 10 Veterans' Affairs. 11 (5) One medical professional with experience working 12 with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by 13 the Director of Veterans' Affairs. 14 (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans 15 organizations representing geographic diversity in the 16 State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs. 17 (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the 18 chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of 19 Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the 20 minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 21 of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 22 appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee 23 of the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the 24 minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 25 the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this 26 paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties' HB1882 - 2 - LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882- 3 -LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882 - 3 - LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b HB1882 - 3 - LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b 1 Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, 2 and VITAS officials. 3 Task Force members shall serve without compensation but 4 may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing 5 their duties. 6 (c) The Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and at 7 any other times it deems necessary. Task Force members shall 8 select from among themselves a chairperson or co-chairpersons 9 at the initial Task Force meeting. 10 (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide 11 administrative and other support to the Task Force. 12 (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes 13 its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. 14 The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and 15 recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 16 December 31, 2026. The Task Force is dissolved, and this 17 Section is repealed, on December 31, 2027. HB1882 - 3 - LRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b