CONDOLENCES: Expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Corporal Shawn Kevin Kelly

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Roger Wilder

Declares May 2025 as Illinois Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month to raise awareness, education, and support for patients and families; ceremonial, with no funds.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.

Purpose

H.R. 232 is a House resolution of the One Hundred Fourth General Assembly of the State of Illinois that (1) declares May 2025 as “Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month” in Illinois and encourages increased awareness, education, and support for people affected by spondyloarthritis, and (2) includes a separate commendatory text recognizing Linda Henderson for long public service. The resolution is ceremonial and does not create new legal obligations or appropriate funds.

Key findings and provisions

Finds that spondyloarthritis is a family of chronic rheumatic diseases affecting roughly 1 in 100 Americans (about 3.2 million U.S. adults), more than rheumatoid arthritis, ALS, and MS combined.

Notes characteristics and concerns: often begins before age 45; commonly causes pain and stiffness in the lower back/buttocks and peripheral joints; diagnostic delays average 7–10 years; some patients progress to spinal fusion and serious joint/organ complications (heart, lungs, eyes, GI tract, skin, nerves).

Highlights access issues: fewer than 400 pediatric rheumatologists in the U.S.; roughly one-fourth of the estimated 300,000 children with arthritis may travel 80+ miles to see a specialist.

Lists types of spondyloarthritis (axial, peripheral, psoriatic, enteropathic, reactive, juvenile/ankylosing, non-radiographic, undifferentiated).

Resolves that May 2025 be declared Spondyloarthritis Awareness Month in Illinois to promote earlier diagnosis, education, resources, and support for affected persons.

Contains separate text commending Linda Henderson for 50 years of public service and directs the Clerk to make an appropriate copy available to her.

Who is affected

Primarily symbolic: raises public- and professional-awareness statewide.

Patients with spondyloarthritis and their families, health-care providers, public health entities, and advocacy groups stand to benefit indirectly from awareness-raising.

No direct regulatory, fiscal, or programmatic mandates are included.

Procedural status (timeline)

Introduced: January 7, 2025.

Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means; later assigned to Public Health Committee.

Recommended for adoption by Public Health Committee (May 1, 2025).

Read by title, rules suspended, and adopted in the House (May 28–31, 2025).

Enrolled and signed by the Speaker (May 29, 2025).

Taken by the Clerk and presented to the Secretary of State (May 30, 2025).

Notes and anomalies

The available document appears to combine multiple short, ceremonial resolutions: the spondyloarthritis awareness text and a separate commendation for Linda Henderson. The bill header initially referenced “CONDOLENCES: … Corporal Shawn Kevin Kelly,” which does not appear in the body text provided. These inconsistencies indicate the file may contain merged or mis‑labeled resolution texts; substantive action described above pertains to the spondyloarthritis awareness and the Henderson commendation.

Bill