West Cook News

Mike Porfirio introduced SB1414 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 31, 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. Creates the Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Commission in preparation of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Provides that the Commission shall study and evaluate all the war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State and: (1) create a comprehensive list of all war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State to highlight the service and sacrifice of the State's military veterans; (2) establish criteria for the designation of war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance, and designate the war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance; (3) identify war and veterans memorials and monuments that are in need of restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding to repair and maintain them; and (4) highlight the need for historical markings or signage to designate war and veterans memorials and monuments for public education and public awareness. Provides that to the extent possible, the Commission shall reflect the geographic diversity of the State and shall include members who represent each branch of the United States military and members who participated in one or more major armed conflicts while serving in the United States armed forces. Contains provisions concerning membership appointments; the appointment of public members; Commission meetings; and other matters. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide administrative support to the Commission. 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 Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Commission is tasked with evaluating all war and veterans memorials in Illinois, creating a comprehensive list, and designating those with unique historical significance. It will identify monuments needing restoration and match them with funding, and promote educational signage for public awareness. The Commission's membership will reflect the state's geographic diversity and include representatives from various military branches and conflicts. The Department of Veterans' Affairs will provide administrative support. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Mike Porfirio has proposed another seven bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Porfirio graduated from U.S. Naval Academy.

Mike Porfirio is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 11th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Celina Villanueva in 2023.

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
SB1414	01/31/2025	Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Creates the Illinois War and Veterans Memorials and Monuments Commission in preparation of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Provides that the Commission shall study and evaluate all the war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State and: (1) create a comprehensive list of all war and veterans memorials and monuments located within the State to highlight the service and sacrifice of the State's military veterans; (2) establish criteria for the designation of war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance, and designate the war and veterans memorials and monuments with unique historical significance; (3) identify war and veterans memorials and monuments that are in need of restoration or other forms of aid, and match them with grants and other sources of funding to repair and maintain them; and (4) highlight the need for historical markings or signage to designate war and veterans memorials and monuments for public education and public awareness. Provides that to the extent possible, the Commission shall reflect the geographic diversity of the State and shall include members who represent each branch of the United States military and members who participated in one or more major armed conflicts while serving in the United States armed forces. Contains provisions concerning membership appointments; the appointment of public members; Commission meetings; and other matters. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide administrative support to the Commission. Effective immediately.
SB1423	01/31/2025	Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that each chief procurement officer may designate as a veteran-owned small business set-aside a fair proportion of construction, supply, and service contracts for award to veteran-owned small businesses in Illinois. Requires the chief procurement officer to report certain information to the General Assembly.
SB1174	01/24/2025	Creates the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act. Allows parents to enter into a temporary agreement granting custodial responsibility during military deployment. Allows a court, after a deploying parent receives notice of deployment and until the deployment terminates, to issue a temporary order granting custodial responsibility. Allows either parent to file a motion, at any time after a deploying parent receives notice of deployment, regarding custodial responsibility of a child during deployment. Allows a court, on motion of a deploying parent, to grant caretaking authority or limited contact to a nonparent who is an adult family member of the child or an adult with whom the child has a close and substantial relationship. Provides that an agreement or grant of authority is temporary and terminates after the deploying parent returns from deployment, unless the agreement has been terminated before that time by court order or modification. Provides that if a court has issued an order granting caretaking authority, the court may enter a temporary order for child support. Allows the court, after a deploying parent returns from deployment until a temporary agreement or order for custodial responsibility is terminated, to issue a temporary order granting the deploying parent reasonable contact with the child. Includes provisions regarding expedited hearings, testimony by electronic means, and the effect of prior judicial orders or agreements. Sets forth notice requirements related to pending deployments and change of mailing addresses.
SB0219	01/22/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for taxpayers who are law enforcement officers in an amount equal to the amount of overtime compensation that is paid to the taxpayer during the taxable year for the taxpayer's service as a law enforcement officer and that is included in the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income. Effective immediately.
SB0220	01/22/2025	Amends the Family Military Leave Act. Changes the name of the Act to the "Military Leave Act". Provides that an employee may use up to 8 hours per calendar month to participate in a funeral honors detail, up to a total of 40 hours per calendar year, or more if authorized by the employer or if provided for in a collective bargaining agreement. Provides for requirements to take leave for funeral honors details. Provides that an employee that takes leave may do so in lieu of, and without having exhausted, his or her vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave, or any other leave that may be granted to the employee, including sick leave and disability leave. Defines terms. Provides that the employer of an employee that takes leave must pay the employee his or her regular rate of pay for the leave taken to participate in a funeral honors detail. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB0243	01/22/2025	Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that, if a quorum of the members of the public body is physically present, a majority of the public body may allow a member of that body to attend the meeting by other means if the member is prevented from physically attending because of performance of active military duty as a service member. Defines "active military duty" and "service member". Effective immediately.
SB0089	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the deduction for compensation paid to a resident by reason of being on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States applies to compensation paid to all members of the uniformed services. Defines "uniformed services".
SB0090	01/17/2025	Amends the State Treasurer Act. Makes formatting changes. Amends the Accountability for the Investment of Public Funds Act. Provides that each State agency shall make available on the Internet, and update at least monthly, no later than the end of each month (rather than by the 15th of the month), sufficient information concerning the investment of any public funds held by that State agency to identify specified information. Effective immediately.
SB0186	01/17/2025	Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides for a temporary permit, which is a 3-year, non-renewable authorization to practice in this State, for active duty military members, military spouses, and veterans. Provides eligibility and application requirements for a temporary permit. Provides that temporary permits are valid for 3 years from the date of issuance and shall not be renewed. Provides that a temporary permitholder may practice within the scope of the permitholder's out-of-state license if the permitholder complies with all State laws, rules, regulations, and standards of practice applicable to the permitholder's profession. Provides that a temporary permit shall not be issued for a profession requiring emergency or public safety certifications unless the issuance of the temporary permit is authorized by the licensing board of the profession. Sets forth provisions concerning definitions; permanent licensure; and rulemaking. Effective January 1, 2026.