Kane County Reporter

Stephanie A. Kifowit introduced HB1882 in the Illinois House on Jan. 29, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Recreates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417 and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. Requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes the Veterans' Services Task Force in Illinois, with the task of reviewing and making recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Aimed at improving the approval rate of disability compensation claims for Illinois veterans, the task force will investigate the reasons for non-recognition of specific ailments and work toward aligning Illinois with other states in compensation approval rates. Composed of 15 members including state officials, veterans, medical professionals, and veterans organization representatives, the task force will report its findings and recommendations by Dec. 31, 2026. It will operate without compensation, meet at least twice yearly, and be supported administratively by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The task force and related provisions will be dissolved on Dec. 31, 2027. The bill takes effect upon becoming law.

Stephanie A. Kifowit has proposed another six bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Kifowitz graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1994 with a BS and again in 1997 from Northern Illinois University with an MPA.

Stephanie A. Kifowitz is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 84th House District. She replaced previous state representative Tom Cross in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1882	01/29/2025	Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Recreates the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417 and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. Requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on December 31, 2027. Effective immediately.
HB1870	01/29/2025	Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. In provisions regarding personnel policies and work time requirements, specifies that State employees of public institutions of higher education classified as faculty and those not eligible for overtime pay may satisfy the time sheets requirement by complying with the terms of their contract with the public institution of higher education. Effective immediately.
HB1871	01/29/2025	Amends the State Employee Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that a member who is eligible to receive an alternative retirement annuity may elect to receive an estimated payment that shall commence no later than 30 days after the later of either the member's last day of employment or 30 days after the member files for the retirement benefit with the System. Provides that the estimated payment shall be the best estimate by the System of the total monthly amount due to the member based on the information that the System possesses at the time of the estimate. Provides that if the amount of the estimate is greater or less than the actual amount of the monthly annuity, the System shall pay or recover the difference within 6 months after the start of the monthly annuity. Excludes a benefit increase resulting from the amendatory Act from the definition of "new benefit increase". Effective immediately.
HB1872	01/29/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that all youth in care shall be assigned a mental health provider to manage their mental health care needs. Requires a youth's mental health provider to visit the youth and conduct a well-being assessment within 30 days after the youth is removed from his or her home and placed in the temporary custody or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services. Provides that additional follow-up visits and well-being checks shall be scheduled and conducted until the youth is no longer under the custody or guardianship of the Department. Provides that any mental health care services provided to the youth shall be in addition to any care or services the youth receives from his or her primary care provider. Grants the Department rulemaking authority.
HB1881	01/29/2025	Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. In a provision concerning dental services for children and adults under the medical assistance program, lists the codes for certain dental procedures that shall be reimbursed at specified amounts. Provides that on and after January 1, 2026, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, in cooperation with the Department of Veterans' Affairs, shall establish and administer a 5-year pilot program to help improve dental care access for veterans. Provides that under the pilot program, veterans with income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shall be eligible for comprehensive dental care coverage at local community dentists who agree to discount their fees and provide needed dental care to eligible veterans. Provides that the Department may require veterans to meet other eligibility requirements as established by rule. Effective immediately.
HB1883	01/29/2025	Appropriates $3,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Office of the Kane County State's Attorney for its operational expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1884	01/29/2025	Appropriates $1,000,000 to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to make grants to child care providers who offer non-traditional hours of care for the children of first responders and trade workers. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1362	01/14/2025	Amends the Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. In a provision concerning differential compensation, changes the definition of "work days" to mean the actual number of shifts (rather than days) the employee would have worked during the period of military leave but for the service member's military obligation. Further provides that work days are tabulated without regard for the number of hours in a shift (rather than work day), regardless if the shift extends into the next day. Removes a provision providing that work hours that extend into the next calendar day count as 2 work days.