Veterans

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act with respect to the Illinois Veteran grant program. Provides that a grant recipient is not required to pay any tuition or mandatory fees while attending a State-controlled university or public community college in this State for a period that is based on the length of his or her active duty service, as verified on his or her U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214, calculated at specified credit hour rates (rather than for a period that is equivalent to 4 years of full-time enrollment, including summer terms). Provides that a grant may be transferred to a qualified dependent beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year. Amends the School Code to make a related change. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Expands the Act to permit the creation of Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commissions (JVAC) in counties that did not have a Veterans Assistance Commission prior to January 1, 2026, and in which there exists a judicial circuit whose jurisdictional boundaries include multiple counties. Provides that veteran service organizations located within any of those counties that are within the judicial circuit's jurisdictional boundaries may come together and create a JVAC that shall provide services to veterans and their families and shall be known as the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of that judicial circuit. Contains provisions on the selection process for the JVAC superintendent and delegates; and other matters. Expands the Act to provide assistance for military veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States, as defined, and did not receive a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge or other equivalent discharge. Provides that if a supervisor of general assistance or county board fails or refuses to provide assistance recommended by the assistance committee of a veterans service organization, VAC, or JVAC, then the veterans service organization, VAC, or JVAC may request that all parties involved enter into an arbitration agreement. Permits any person who is eligible for assistance under the Act to bring a civil action against the county for failing or refusing to provide such assistance. Prohibits the disbursement or transfer of VAC or JVAC funding to any not-for-profit corporation or any other such organization. Contains provisions on annual voting reporting requirements; mandatory training for VAC and JVAC delegates and alternates; a prohibition on a VAC or JVAC establishing or operating a not-for-profit corporation that has a name substantially similar to the name of the VAC or JVAC; permission to receive gifts or donations in furtherance of veterans' interests; benefits for VAC and JVAC employees; the establishment of a Veterans Assistance Provost within the Office of the Attorney General; audit reports; and other matters.

Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act. Requires institutions of higher education (institution) to accommodate service member student's academic military leave and grant prompt readmission when the service member student has not exceeded a cumulative academic military leave period beyond 5 years, provides advance notice of academic military leave to the institution, and provides notice of intent to return to the institution. Requires the institution to readmit a service member student on academic military leave into the next class, classes, or academic year division following the receipt of the notice of intent to return in accordance with the terms of the accommodation. Contains provisions on exemptions to readmission and related reporting requirements on service member students; investigations by the Attorney General's appointed ISERRA Advocate on whether a readmission exemption exists; and other matters. Requires service member students to provide advance notice of pending military service and prohibits institutions from imposing conditions for academic military leave not otherwise imposed under the Act. Contains provisions on military accommodation; academic obligations of service member students; reimbursement for school expenses; academic withdrawal due to military service; rejection of accommodation and the institution's burden of proof; a 5-year military service limitation; records documentation; advance notice requirements on service member students; notice of intent to return; anti-discrimination protections; academic leave for the spouses of servicemembers; Attorney General enforcement authority; remedies; rulemaking authority; and other matters.

Amends the University of Illinois Act. In provisions concerning scholarships for the children of veterans, provides that an honorary scholarship may also be given to the children of persons who served at any time during the invasion of Panama between December 20, 1989 and January 31, 1990.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities and veterans of World War II, provides that the term "veteran" also includes veterans who were killed in the line of duty but were not Illinois residents at the time of their death. Provides that a requirement that a surviving spouse must be a resident of Illinois from the time of the veteran's death through the taxable year for which the homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities is sought does not apply if the veteran was killed in the line of duty. Effective immediately.

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.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that special purpose levies made for the purpose of funding a Veterans Assistance Commission are not included in a taxing district's aggregate extension.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the Vehicle Use Tax Article of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the taxes under those Acts do not apply to a motor vehicle that is registered in the State to an Illinois resident who acquired the vehicle while the Illinois resident was stationed outside of this State as an active duty member of the military.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any veteran who holds proof of a service-connected disability from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and whose degree of disability has been declared to be 50% or more, but whose disability does not qualify the veteran for a plate or decal for persons with disabilities, without the payment of any registration fee, make application to the Secretary of State for any other special plate for veterans for which the veteran qualifies for the registration of one motor vehicle of the first division, one motorcycle, or one motor vehicle of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds. Effective immediately.

Amends the Special Plates Article of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person eligible to receive certain military special plates is entitled to receive, upon application to the Secretary of State, a second set of the special plates under the same terms and conditions as the first set of special plates. Effective immediately.