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HB 2720

To create the Southern Coalfield Resiliency and Revitalization Program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jordan Bridges and 9 co-sponsors

Excludes Veterans Assistance Commission levies from PTELL, starting 2026, enabling districts to fund veterans services with property tax outside the cap.

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Bill Summary · HB 2720

Summary — HB 2720 (PROP TX‑VETERANS‑PTELL)

Overview / Purpose

HB 2720 amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) in the Illinois Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/18‑185) to exclude from a taxing district’s "aggregate extension" special purpose levies made to fund a Veterans Assistance Commission. The change takes effect for levies beginning with the 2026 levy year. In practice, this means such veteran‑funding levies will not count against the statutory property tax extension limit that normally caps year‑to‑year growth.

Note: the bill file includes unrelated, truncated material from another state’s draft; this summary addresses the Illinois Property Tax Code amendment (sponsored by Rep. Suzanne M. Ness).

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 18‑185 (Property Tax Code/PTELL) to add a new exclusion:
    • Special purpose extensions “beginning with the 2026 levy year, made for the purpose of funding a Veterans Assistance Commission, as provided in Section 5‑2006 of the Counties Code,” are excluded from the taxing district’s aggregate extension calculation.
  • Effect: Levies specifically for funding a Veterans Assistance Commission may be imposed without counting against the PTELL cap (the lesser of 5% or CPI increase unless voters approve a higher rate).

Who is affected

  • Counties and other taxing districts that establish and fund a Veterans Assistance Commission (per Counties Code §5‑2006).
  • Property taxpayers in taxing districts that adopt such levies — those districts could levy additional property tax extensions outside the PTELL cap to fund veterans services.
  • County clerks and local tax officials — administrative responsibility for certifying and implementing the excluded levy.
  • Veterans and veterans’ service programs — potential increase in dedicated local funding.

Fiscal and policy implications

  • Allows local governments to raise dedicated property tax revenue for veterans assistance without being constrained by PTELL aggregate limits.
  • Potential modest increases in property tax bills in districts that adopt the excluded levy; overall fiscal impact depends on how many districts use the new authority and the levy amounts.
  • Provides a dedicated funding mechanism intended to strengthen local veterans services and assistance.

Procedural status / timeline

  • Introduced (IL House) by Rep. Suzanne M. Ness: 02/06/2025
  • Referred to Rules Committee; committee assignments and readings in Feb–Mar 2025
  • Passed both chambers (House and Senate) in Feb–Mar 2025
  • Transmitted to Governor: 03/26/2025
  • Signed by Governor: 03/31/2025
  • Effective for levies beginning with the 2026 levy year.

Sponsors and related measures

  • Primary sponsor: Rep. Suzanne M. Ness
  • Co‑sponsor: Rep. Lilian Jiménez
  • Companion / related bills: SB 894 and HB 1935

If you want, I can draft a short explainer showing an example calculation of how a Veterans Assistance Commission levy would be treated under PTELL before and after this change.

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

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