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HB 3917

Relating to a catastrophic wildfire fund; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Mannix and 1 co-sponsor

HB 3917 allocates $234,473,965 to the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs for FY2026, detailing funds for operations, homes, grants, scholarships, and veterans’ programs.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3917

HB 3917 — Appropriations for the Department of Veterans' Affairs (Introduced version)

Bill number: HB 3917
Introduced: Feb 25 / Mar 6, 2025 (Rep. Robyn Gabel)
Subject (as filed): Appropriations for the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025
Status: Read/first reading and referred to multiple committees; in committee upon adjournment (6/28/2025)
Companion: SB 2483

Note: the bill header provided by the user referenced “a catastrophic wildfire fund; declaring an emergency,” but the text of the introduced version is an appropriations act for the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. This summary follows the actual introduced text.

Summary / Purpose

HB 3917 is a fiscal appropriations bill that allocates state (and some federal/other) funds to the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It specifies amounts for central office operations, veterans’ homes, field services, grants and programs supporting veterans (including scholarships, headstones, PTSD and homelessness programs), and several restricted funds.

Key provisions and dollar amounts

  • Total appropriations (as presented in the bill header):
    • General Funds: $160,460,600
    • Other State Funds: $71,321,965
    • Federal Funds: $2,691,400
    • Total: $234,473,965
  • Central Office (from GRF): $15,099,300 including:
    • Personal services: $7,804,900
    • Operational expenses: $4,947,300
    • Security/safety enhancements for veterans’ homes: $1,250,000
    • DEI/accessibility initiatives: $500,000
  • Veterans’ Accountability Unit: $1,096,200 (GRF)
  • Grants-in-aid (GRF examples):
    • Warrior Assistance Program: $250,000
    • Bonus payments to war veterans/peacetime crisis survivors: $198,000
    • Educational opportunities for children of certain veterans: $500,000
    • Cartage/erection of veterans’ headstones: $425,000
  • Scholarships for dependents of Illinois resident military (POW/MIA/killed or disabled): $3,500,000 (GRF)
  • Illinois Veterans’ Home — Chicago: $16,830,900 (GRF) plus up to $6,000,000 from Illinois Veterans Homes Fund for related costs
  • PTSD, homelessness, long-term care, disability benefits research/grants: $2,000,000 (from Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund)
  • Reappropriation: $1,641,865 remaining from prior appropriation (Public Act 103‑0589) for similar veterans’ services
  • Specially Adapted Housing: $240,000 (Affordable Housing Trust Fund)
  • Illinois Military Family Relief Fund: $250,000 for survivor compensation benefits
  • Line-item staffing and operational totals are specified for individual veterans’ homes (Anna, Quincy, etc.) with substantial amounts directed to personal services and operations (examples: Quincy — GRF personal services $32,944,700; total Quincy GRF $45,517,400).

Who is affected

  • Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (budget and program operations)
  • Residents and staff of state veterans’ homes (Chicago, Quincy, Anna, etc.)
  • Veterans and their dependents (scholarships, headstones, bonus payments)
  • Veterans’ service organizations, mental health and homelessness service providers (through grants)
  • State fiscal resources (General Revenue Fund and several restricted funds)

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 25, 2025; first readings and referrals followed in February–March 2025.
  • Referred to Human Services, Rules, Judiciary (with subsequent referral to Ways & Means) per chamber actions.
  • Status as of 2025-06-28: In committee upon adjournment.
  • The bill text excerpt does not explicitly show an emergency declaration clause despite the differing title supplied separately.

Observations

  • HB 3917 is primarily a departmental appropriation bill specifying detailed line items rather than policy changes. Its enactment would authorize the listed FY2026 spending levels for IDVA programs and operations.
  • Review of the full bill text would be necessary to confirm any additional sections (e.g., emergency language, effective date, or further fund transfers) not included in the provided excerpt.

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

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