Joined by legislators, advocates, and Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) Acting Director Terry Prince, Governor JB Pritzker signed seven pieces of legislation that aim to improve the lives of Illinois’ service members and veterans and honor their service to their state and nation. The legislation package builds on steps already taken by the Pritzker administration on behalf of veterans and service members including fully funding a fifth veteran’s home in Chicago and the creation of the Veterans Service-Related Ailments Task Force to review injuries that are not currently recognized at the federal level. A few of the pieces of legislation include:

House Bill 3865
HB 3865 establishes additional consumer protections to protect service members and veterans. Championed by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the new law requires private companies that advertise veterans’ and service members’ benefits appeal services to publicly disclose the same services are available free of charge through county veterans’ services officers and other governmental agencies. HB 3865 is effective January 1, 2022.

Senate Bill 2089
SB 2089 requires the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fly a United States flag, an Illinois Flag, and a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag at all State parks within five years. To help cover costs related to the initiative, groups and individuals can make donations to the Department’s Special Projects Fund. SB 2089 is effective January 1, 2022.

House Bill 1915
HB 1915 allows the IDVA to create Fold of Honor decals for Illinois license plates. Drivers interested in receiving a Fold of Honor decal will be required to pay a first-time issuance cost of $25, $10 of which will go to the Folds of Honor Foundation Fund and the remaining $15 will go to the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Money collected by the Folds of Honor Foundation Fund through the sale of the decals will fund educational scholarship grants for military families. HB 1915 is effective immediately.