HB 4309 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

POW MIA RECOGNITION DAY

Summary
Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the Governor shall annually designate by official proclamation the third Friday of September in each year as POW/MIA Recognition Day (rather than the third Friday of September in each year is designated as POW/MIA Recognition Day) to be observed in honor and remembrance of the men and women who, as POWs, have suffered captivity in foreign countries while in active service with the United States armed forces or who, as MIAs, have been recognized as missing in action in a time of war or during a period of hostilities (rather than who were recognized as POWs or MIAs in a time of war or during a period of hostilities). Provides that the Governor shall request, in the Governor's annual designation by official proclamation, that some portion of the third Friday of September be used for solemn contemplation on the plight of members of the United States armed forces who have been held prisoners of war and members of the United States armed forces who have been missing in action and the resolve of families and friends who continue to seek the fullest possible accounting for missing loved ones. Effective immediately.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 10, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 1 edit · Apr 8, 2026
MINOR
The bill was updated from its original introduction to its engrossed version, reflecting final legislative formatting and page numbering adjustments. The core policy content regarding the designation of POW/MIA Recognition Day remains unchanged, with no substantive modifications to the law's requirements or scope.
TECHNICAL

Updated the document title from 'Introduced' to 'Engrossed' and adjusted page headers and footers to reflect the bill's progression through the legislative process.

Floor votes · House Apr 8, 2026

How they voted

1080
Passed · 8 other
Total votes 116
Apr 8, 2026
D Democratic76
71 Yea 5
93% Yea
R Republican40
37 Yea 3
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Apr 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 10, 2026
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-000-000
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate State Government Administration Committee; 009-000-000
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Committee
Assigned to State Government Administration Committee
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
2 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors