104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1414 Introduced 1/31/2025, by Sen. Mike Porfirio SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/12 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Commission in preparation of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Provides that the Commission shall study and evaluate all the war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State and: (1) create a comprehensive list of all war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State to highlight the service and sacrifice of the State's military veterans; (2) establish criteria for the designation of war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance, and designate the war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance; (3) identify war and veterans memorials and monuments that are in need of restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding to repair and maintain them; and (4) highlight the need for historical markings or signage to designate war and veterans memorials and monuments for public education and public awareness. Provides that to the extent possible, the Commission shall reflect the geographic diversity of the State and shall include members who represent each branch of the United States military and members who participated in one or more major armed conflicts while serving in the United States armed forces. Contains provisions concerning membership appointments; the appointment of public members; Commission meetings; and other matters. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide administrative support to the Commission. Effective immediately. LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1414 Introduced 1/31/2025, by Sen. Mike Porfirio SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/12 new 20 ILCS 2805/12 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Commission in preparation of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Provides that the Commission shall study and evaluate all the war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State and: (1) create a comprehensive list of all war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State to highlight the service and sacrifice of the State's military veterans; (2) establish criteria for the designation of war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance, and designate the war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance; (3) identify war and veterans memorials and monuments that are in need of restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding to repair and maintain them; and (4) highlight the need for historical markings or signage to designate war and veterans memorials and monuments for public education and public awareness. Provides that to the extent possible, the Commission shall reflect the geographic diversity of the State and shall include members who represent each branch of the United States military and members who participated in one or more major armed conflicts while serving in the United States armed forces. Contains provisions concerning membership appointments; the appointment of public members; Commission meetings; and other matters. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide administrative support to the Commission. Effective immediately. LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1414 Introduced 1/31/2025, by Sen. Mike Porfirio SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/12 new 20 ILCS 2805/12 new 20 ILCS 2805/12 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Commission in preparation of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Provides that the Commission shall study and evaluate all the war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State and: (1) create a comprehensive list of all war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State to highlight the service and sacrifice of the State's military veterans; (2) establish criteria for the designation of war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance, and designate the war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance; (3) identify war and veterans memorials and monuments that are in need of restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding to repair and maintain them; and (4) highlight the need for historical markings or signage to designate war and veterans memorials and monuments for public education and public awareness. Provides that to the extent possible, the Commission shall reflect the geographic diversity of the State and shall include members who represent each branch of the United States military and members who participated in one or more major armed conflicts while serving in the United States armed forces. Contains provisions concerning membership appointments; the appointment of public members; Commission meetings; and other matters. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide administrative support to the Commission. Effective immediately. LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b A BILL FOR SB1414LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414 LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414 LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 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 12 as follows: 6 (20 ILCS 2805/12 new) 7 Sec. 12. Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments 8 Commission; creation. 9 (a) The Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments 10 Commission is created in preparation of the 250th Anniversary 11 of the signing of the United States Declaration of 12 Independence. The Commission shall study and evaluate all the 13 war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the 14 State. To the extent possible, the Commission shall reflect 15 the geographic diversity of the State and shall include 16 members who represent each branch of the United States 17 military and members who participated in one or more major 18 armed conflicts while serving in the United States armed 19 forces. 20 The Commission shall consist of the following members, a 21 majority of whom shall be veterans: 22 (1) Two members appointed by the President of the 23 Senate. 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1414 Introduced 1/31/2025, by Sen. Mike Porfirio SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 2805/12 new 20 ILCS 2805/12 new 20 ILCS 2805/12 new Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Commission in preparation of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Provides that the Commission shall study and evaluate all the war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State and: (1) create a comprehensive list of all war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State to highlight the service and sacrifice of the State's military veterans; (2) establish criteria for the designation of war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance, and designate the war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance; (3) identify war and veterans memorials and monuments that are in need of restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding to repair and maintain them; and (4) highlight the need for historical markings or signage to designate war and veterans memorials and monuments for public education and public awareness. Provides that to the extent possible, the Commission shall reflect the geographic diversity of the State and shall include members who represent each branch of the United States military and members who participated in one or more major armed conflicts while serving in the United States armed forces. Contains provisions concerning membership appointments; the appointment of public members; Commission meetings; and other matters. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide administrative support to the Commission. Effective immediately. LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b A BILL FOR 20 ILCS 2805/12 new LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414 LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414- 2 -LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414 - 2 - LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414 - 2 - LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b 1 (2) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House 2 of Representatives. 3 (3) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 4 Senate. 5 (4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 6 House of Representatives. 7 (5) Three members appointed by the Governor. 8 (6) One member appointed by the Secretary of State. 9 (7) Three members appointed by the Illinois 10 Association of County Veterans Assistance Commissions. 11 (8) One member who is a military historian appointed 12 by the University of Illinois System Board of Trustees. 13 (9) One member appointed by the Department of Military 14 Affairs. 15 (10) One member appointed by the Department of 16 Veterans' Affairs. 17 (11) One member appointed by the Secretary of 18 Transportation. 19 All members must be appointed as soon as practicable. In 20 appointing Commission members, appointing authorities need not 21 appoint General Assembly members or Department officers or 22 employees but may instead appoint members from the public. 23 The Commission shall conduct its first meeting by no later 24 than July 4, 2025 during which a Chairperson shall be elected 25 from among the members by a simple majority vote. Thereafter, 26 the Commission shall meet whenever called by the Chairperson. SB1414 - 2 - LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414- 3 -LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414 - 3 - LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b SB1414 - 3 - LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b 1 Members shall serve without compensation, except for public 2 members who shall be reimbursed for reasonable travel and 3 other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 4 The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide 5 administrative support to the Commission. 6 (c) The Commission shall perform the following duties: 7 (1) Create a comprehensive list of all war and 8 veterans memorials and monuments located within the State 9 to highlight the service and sacrifice of the State's 10 military veterans. 11 (2) Establish criteria for the designation of war and 12 veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical 13 significance, and designate the war and veterans memorials 14 and monuments with unique historical significance. 15 (3) Identify war and veterans memorials and monuments 16 that are in need of restoration or other forms of aid, and 17 match them with grants and other sources of funding to 18 repair and maintain them. 19 (4) Highlight the need for historical markings or 20 signage to designate war and veterans memorials and 21 monuments for public education and public awareness. SB1414 - 3 - LRB104 08474 KTG 18526 b