New Illinois Laws 2018: Veterans

Flag Display-Government Notification (HB 3017): Establishes that, in addition to the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, any other state or federal entity, agency, or person can notify the governor of the death by hostile fire of an Illinois resident member of the United States Armed Forces.

Veterans’ Affairs (HB 3018): Makes technical changes in various acts by changing references to the Illinois Dept. of Veterans Affairs to the Illinois Dept. of Veterans' Affairs.

Redefining Military Economic Development Committee (HB 3032): Changes the name of the Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee to the Illinois Military Economic Development Committee (MEDC), changes the office to which MEDC reports, and redefines the duties it has assigned.

Military Service Member Relief (HB 2449): Allows service members to terminate or suspend certain service contracts.

Cancer Awareness for Veterans (SB 838): Requires the Department of Public Health to promote awareness and programs for cancer screening of veterans.

Veteran Service Animals (SB 866): Requires the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide returning veterans with informational resources on how to acquire service animals.

Veterans’ Court (SB 1238): Allows the Veteran and Servicemembers Court programs to operate in more than one county in the Circuit at the discretion of the Chief Judge.

Veterans Court Post Adjudication (SB 1312): Removes the State's Attorney approval requirement for participation in the Veteran and Servicemember Court.

Vital Records-Military Service (SB 1693): Adds a "veteran" designation to death certificates.

Higher Education Military Experience (HB 3701): Requires each public institution of higher education, and any institution that receives MAP funding, to adopt a policy for awarding academic credit for prior military training and programs, and to develop a procedure for receiving the necessary documentation to assess military transcripts.

Vehicle CD-Waive Reclassification Registration Fee (HB 374): Allows veterans with specialty veterans plates to replace them with another type of plate without paying the fee.

U.S. Coast Guard Plate (HB 2595): Creates the US Coast Guard license plate.

Also Watch: New Illinois Laws in 2018 That Could Change Your Life