Bill
HB 3187
The act broadens digital access programs and funding eligibility, expands the Digital Divide Elimination Fund, and strengthens grants and support for community groups and courts.
Status & timing
- Introduced: February 21, 2025 (Rep. Margaret Croke).
- Passed both chambers: May 22, 2025. Sent to Governor June 20, 2025.
- Governor approved: August 15, 2025. Effective date: August 15, 2025. (Public Act 104‑0283)
- Companion bills: SB 1557 and SB 3075.
Purpose and intent
HB 3187 makes targeted statutory changes across several State laws to (1) revise duties and responsibilities assigned to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), (2) amend the Eliminate the Digital Divide Law to broaden definitions and grant authority, (3) move administrative support for a specified advisory committee, and (4) repeal an outdated employment development statute. The Act also makes conforming changes to related statutes (including Department of Insurance provisions and certain tax-credit reporting requirements).
Key provisions and changes
- Changes to DCEO duties
- Removes language that required DCEO to establish a freight‑rate information service for U.S. and foreign shippers and to promote Illinois water ports/airports (existing promotion language retained but freight‑rate duty deleted).
- Eliminates or revises provisions that designated DCEO as a statewide “clearing house” for local government problems and that required a range of advisory/administrative functions for local governments (examples of duties previously listed include dissemination of info on state/federal grants, preparing model budget forms, repository for local financial reports, and administering certain grant/loan programs).
- Transfers administrative support responsibility for the Student Career Development Liability Insurance Advisory Committee from DCEO to the Department of Insurance (with conforming edits to the Department of Insurance law).
Repeals
State Finance / Trust fund
Eliminate the Digital Divide Law (30 ILCS 780)
Other conforming changes
Who is affected
- Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: reduction/realignment of specified duties regarding freight rate information and local government clearing‑house functions.
- Department of Insurance: gains administrative support responsibility for the Student Career Development Liability Insurance Advisory Committee.
- Local governments: loss/transfer of certain DCEO central advisory services may shift where they obtain technical assistance, grant application support, budget templates, and financial reporting repositories.
- Digital divide stakeholders: broader statutory definitions increase potential eligibility for digital‑access programs and grants (including incarcerated populations, seniors, veterans, community‑based organizations, and community technology centers).
- Entities involved in programs previously administered under the Illinois Emergency Employment Development Act (statutory framework removed).
Procedural notes
- The bill underwent committee amendments and two House floor amendments before passage. It was reported favorably as substituted in committee and passed with wide margins in the House and Senate. The Act is effective immediately upon the Governor’s approval (Aug 15, 2025) unless otherwise noted in specific sections.
Sources: Enrolled Public Act 104‑0283 (HB 3187) and bill synopsis/legislative history.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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