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HB 2418

YOUTH SPORTS COMMISSION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Dee Avelar and 21 co-sponsors

Establishes the Illinois Commission on Youth Sports to study and recommend ways to expand equitable, safe youth sports access and development, with sunset on 12/31/2028.

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Bill Summary · HB 2418

Summary — HB 2418 / Public Act 104-0222

Short title: Commission on Youth Sports Act
Public Act No.: 104-0222 (effective August 15, 2025; repealed December 31, 2028)

Purpose

Creates a statewide Commission on Youth Sports to gather community input, research, and make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) on expanding equitable, safe, and sustainable youth access to sports; integrating positive youth development into sport; and promoting youth sports programs, events, and tournaments across Illinois.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Commission on Youth Sports and defines its purpose and duties.
  • Directs the Commission to focus recommendations on sports-based youth development and to address objectives including:
    • supporting workshops, trainings, and conferences that promote positive youth development through sport;
    • connecting public, private, local, and State entities to generate funding and communicate statewide information about youth sports programs and events;
    • promoting equitable participation of community youth sports programs;
    • encouraging inclusion of persons with disabilities; and
    • encouraging inclusion of persons from historically disadvantaged communities.
  • Reporting: Commission must submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Governor, General Assembly, and DHS on or before December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter.
  • Sunset: the Act is repealed on December 31, 2028.

Membership

  • Legislative appointees: one or more members from each chamber appointed by chamber leaders (President of the Senate, Senate Minority Leader, Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader). More than four legislators may serve if appointments equally represent majority and minority caucuses of each chamber.
  • Executive appointees: one Governor appointee representing the Governor’s Office plus additional Governor appointees with specified backgrounds, e.g.:
    • 2 people experienced running/ coaching nonprofits that leverage sport for youth development;
    • 2 people experienced in policy, funding, or program evaluation for underserved youth;
    • 1 person experienced in adaptive sports programming;
    • 1 person experienced coaching/administering school or club youth sports;
    • 1 parent/caregiver of a child who participates in sports programming;
    • 1 person experienced training coaches in positive youth development;
    • 1 representative of a school athletic association or a physical education teacher.
  • Governor selects the Commission chair.

Operations, meetings, support, and expenses

  • Terms: appointees serve 2-year terms (Governor may stagger terms).
  • Meetings: initial meeting no later than 90 days after all members are appointed; at least quarterly thereafter.
  • DHS must provide administrative and other support; DHS may designate a third party (paid or volunteer) to provide support and may delay implementing support if a third party cannot be found.
  • Members receive no compensation; may be reimbursed for expenses (including travel) subject to appropriation and travel rules.

Who is affected

  • Youth and families across Illinois (particularly youth from historically disadvantaged communities and youth with disabilities).
  • Local school and athletic associations, park districts, nonprofit youth-sport organizations, coaches, and coach trainers.
  • DHS (administrative responsibilities) and the Governor/General Assembly (recipients of Commission reports and recommendations).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Centralizes study and recommendation-making on equitable access to youth sport and sports-based positive youth development.
  • May facilitate interagency and cross-sector coordination, capacity-building (trainings), and identification of funding strategies—but does not itself appropriate funds.
  • Effect is time-limited (sunset at end of 2028), which concentrates short-term study and recommendations; implementation of recommendations would require follow-up legislation or agency action and appropriation.
  • Commission effectiveness will depend on DHS support, appointment composition, and available appropriations for reimbursements and follow-up actions.

Legislative timeline (selected)

  • Filed: February 4, 2025; Passed both houses: May 22, 2025; Sent to Governor: June 20, 2025; Governor approved: August 15, 2025 (effective same day).

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

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