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HB 2714

HEROES WAY SIGN-VSO APPLICATON

104th Regular Session Introduced by Dee Avelar and 19 co-sponsors

HB 2714 lets federally or state-chartered veterans service organizations apply for an honorary Heroes Way sign when no eligible next-of-kin exists, broadening recognition.

Referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · HB 2714

Summary — HB 2714: Heroes Way Sign — Veterans Service Organization (VSO) Application

Note on source documents

The materials provided include text from two unrelated bills (Arizona groundwater management text and an Illinois highways bill). This summary focuses on the Illinois Heroes Way Designation Program provisions in HB 2714 (the portion titled “Heroes Way Designation Program Act”), which match the bill title you provided.

Purpose and intent

HB 2714 amends the Illinois Heroes Way Designation Program Act to allow a federally‑chartered or state‑chartered veterans service organization (VSO) to apply for an honorary roadway sign when no eligible next‑of‑kin applicant is available. The change makes it easier for a qualifying veteran killed in action to receive an honorary roadside sign even if family members cannot apply.

Key provisions

  • Expanded applicant eligibility:
    • Current law: the right to apply is limited to persons related by marriage, adoption, or consanguinity within the second degree to a service member who was killed in action and who was an Illinois resident at death.
    • Change (new subsection a‑5): If no eligible family member exists, a federally‑chartered or state‑chartered veterans service organization may apply on behalf of the deceased service member.
  • Application requirements (unchanged or reiterated):
    • Applicant must submit a form prescribed by the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
    • The form must describe the interstate or state‑numbered interchange, bridge, or highway segment proposed for the designation.
    • The application must include the name of at least one current member of the General Assembly to sponsor the designation and may include supporting testimony.
    • The applicant must certify eligibility (family relation or VSO status).
    • The named service member must appear on the National Gold Star Family Registry.
  • Fees and sign placement:
    • Applicants must pay a fee (set by the Secretary) to cover construction and maintenance costs for the sign(s); fee cannot exceed those costs.
    • Two signs are erected per approved designation.
    • Signs are placed on interstate or state‑numbered segments under IDOT jurisdiction, subject to federal and state signage limitations (location, spacing, etc.).
    • Fees collected are deposited into the State Road Fund.
  • Administrative items:
    • IDOT posts notice of proposed designations on its official website and processes approvals/denials.
    • Documents and fees are to be submitted to IDOT.
  • Technical amendment:
    • A House amendment corrected wording from “state‑charted” to “state‑chartered” to align with statutory language.

Who is affected / likely impacts

  • Veterans’ families and Gold Star families: retains primary right to apply; ensures an alternative path for recognition when immediate family cannot apply.
  • Veterans service organizations: gain authority to seek honorary recognition on behalf of fallen Illinois resident service members.
  • Illinois Department of Transportation: may see an increase in applications and must process applications, manage fee receipts, coordinate sign installation and maintenance.
  • Local communities and motorists: may see more honorary “Heroes Way” signs installed; placement remains constrained by federal/state signage rules.
  • Fiscal impact: construction/maintenance costs are paid by applicants (fee cannot exceed cost) and deposited to the Road Fund, limiting direct state expenditure.

Procedural status (from provided timeline)

  • Introduced in House (Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit) — February 2025.
  • Passed House (Third Reading) 112–0 — April 10, 2025 (House Floor Amendment No. 1 adopted correcting “state‑chartered”).
  • Arrived in Senate — April 14, 2025.
  • Referred to Senate Assignments — April 25, 2025.
  • Chief Senate sponsor listed in the materials: Sen. John F. Curran.

Limitations and notes

  • The provided packet mixed in unrelated Arizona groundwater statute amendments. This summary isolates and describes the Illinois Heroes Way changes only.
  • Some statutory language in the source was partially garbled; this summary relies on the clearest provisions and the House amendment that fixed “state‑chartered.”

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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