republic-os/legislation/us/states/il/100th/hb-2973.md

---
type: "Bill"
title: "DISCHARGED SERVICEMEMBERS"
description: "Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Illinois Veterans' Advisory Council shall investigate the re-entry process for service members who return to civilian life after being engaged in an active theater. Provides that by July 1, 2018 and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the Council shall present a specified annual report. Provides that such investigation and annual report responsibilities shall be a continuation of the investigation and annual report responsibilities of the Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task Force. Provides that through July 1, 2017, the Task Force shall present the specified annual report. Provides that as soon as is practicable after the Task Force presents its final report due by July 1, 2017, any information collected by the Task Force in carrying out its duties under specified provisions shall be transferred to the Council. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on July 1, 2018. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "100th"
identifier: "HB 2973"
citation: "Illinois HB 2973 (100th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 27
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2017-02-09"
last_action: "2017-06-30"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/e350b3a1-558f-43dd-abc8-a0f8dcc5199d"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2973&GAID=14&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=104499&SessionID=91&GA=100"
source_hash: "add181c1111efc4e8cde27b88ed19ee67ffe1c4464ac4b39f08f0cca3211ef9f"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 2973 (100th) — DISCHARGED SERVICEMEMBERS

Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Provides that the Illinois Veterans' Advisory Council shall investigate the re-entry process for service members who return to civilian life after being engaged in an active theater. Provides that by July 1, 2018 and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the Council shall present a specified annual report. Provides that such investigation and annual report responsibilities shall be a continuation of the investigation and annual report responsibilities of the Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task Force. Provides that through July 1, 2017, the Task Force shall present the specified annual report. Provides that as soon as is practicable after the Task Force presents its final report due by July 1, 2017, any information collected by the Task Force in carrying out its duties under specified provisions shall be transferred to the Council. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved on July 1, 2018. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2973&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104499&DocNum=2973&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2973eng&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104499&DocNum=2973&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2973enr&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104499&DocNum=2973&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **107–0** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **57–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Linda Chapa LaVia — primary (person)
- Michael E. Hastings — cosponsor (person)
- Thomas Cullerton — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-02-09** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia `filing`
- **2017-02-09** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-02-09** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-22** Assigned to Veterans' Affairs Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-03-09** Do Pass / Short Debate Veterans' Affairs Committee; 011-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2017-03-09** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2017-03-15** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2017-03-15** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2017-03-16** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 107-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2017-03-17** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2017-03-17** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading March 28, 2017 `reading-1`
- **2017-03-24** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Pamela J. Althoff
- **2017-03-28** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-03-28** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2017-04-25** Assigned to Veterans Affairs `referral-committee`
- **2017-05-03** Do Pass Veterans Affairs; 005-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2017-05-03** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 4, 2017
- **2017-05-15** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2017-05-15** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 16, 2017
- **2017-05-25** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Thomas Cullerton
- **2017-05-25** Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2017-05-25** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings
- **2017-05-25** Passed Both Houses
- **2017-06-23** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2017-06-30** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2017-06-30** Effective Date June 30, 2017
- **2017-06-30** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 100-0010 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/e350b3a1-558f-43dd-abc8-a0f8dcc5199d`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).