HB 3897 — Summary (IEMA appropriations)
Status: Referred to Rules Committee (introduced 02/25/2025; placed on General State Calendar 05/15/2025)
Primary sponsor: Rep. Robyn Gabel
Companion bill: SB 2965
Purpose
HB 3897 is an appropriation bill that provides funding for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Office of Homeland Security for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates resources across multiple state and federal funding sources to support routine operations, preparedness and response activities, radiation and nuclear safety programs, and several targeted projects and studies.
Overall funding
The bill’s cover totals are:
- General Funds: $27,747,500
- Other State Funds: $598,020,700
- Federal Funds: $1,601,143,852
- Total appropriation: $2,226,912,052
Key provisions and notable appropriations
- Disaster response and recovery: $500,000,000 from the Disaster Response and Recovery Fund for disaster response/recovery expenses, including prior years’ costs.
- General operational support: $15,147,500 from the General Revenue Fund for operational expenses (in addition to other appropriations).
- Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety programs:
- Multiple line-item appropriations from the Radiation Protection Fund (examples: $4,496,400 for management/administrative support; $8,838,200 for radiation safety).
- Nuclear Safety Emergency Preparedness Fund appropriations for operations and preparedness (several line items including personal services, contractual services, EDP, equipment — totals shown within bill).
- Targeted projects and studies:
- $1,500,000 from the IEMA State Projects Fund for a Mississippi Water Commission Southwest Illinois Levee Systems Study.
- $2,000,000 from IEMA State Projects Fund for planning/developing a statewide emergency broadcast system.
- $100,000 from Emergency Planning and Training Fund for activities related to the SAFE CCS (carbon capture and sequestration) Act.
- $100,000 from General Revenue for the Illinois Civilian Cyber Auxiliary.
- Technology and operations investments: significant electronic data processing, telecommunication, contractual services, and equipment line items are included across funds to support IEMA operations and preparedness systems.
Who is affected
- IEMA and Office of Homeland Security staff and operations (personnel, IT, equipment).
- Local governments and emergency responders who receive support and grants for disaster response and preparedness.
- Communities impacted by disasters (through Disaster Response and Recovery Fund expenditures).
- Regulated entities and facilities related to radiation and nuclear safety (licensing, monitoring, decommissioning).
- Stakeholders in levee infrastructure, statewide emergency broadcasting, carbon capture projects, and civilian cyber volunteer programs.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced 02/25/2025 (first reading); referred to Rules Committee.
- Referred to Land & Resource Management on 03/27/2025; held hearings and reported favorably without amendment (committee actions 04/17–04/29/2025).
- Placed on the General State Calendar 05/15/2025.
- Companion bill SB 2965 tracks similar appropriations in the Senate.
Potential impact
If enacted, HB 3897 would provide substantial funding to sustain and expand IEMA and Homeland Security operations for FY 2026 — notably a large, dedicated $500 million disaster response reserve and multiple investments in radiation/nuclear safety, IT systems, and statewide preparedness projects. The bill directs funding across several restricted funds and federal grants, shaping IEMA’s capacity for emergency response, mitigation, licensing/enforcement activities, and specialized initiatives (levee study, broadcast system, cyber auxiliary).
