Metro East Sun

Kevin Schmidt introduced HB4038 in the Illinois House on April 8, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois State House.

According to the Illinois State House site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to availability of funds, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may establish the Illinois Apprenticeship Voucher Program for the purpose of providing funds to apprentices to pay for their tools and equipment upon completion of their registered apprenticeship program. Provides that Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall disburse the sum of $300 to each recipient in the form of a voucher for the purpose of paying for tools and equipment required in their intended line of work. Creates the Illinois Apprenticeship-to-Career Starter Kit Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department for the purposes of the voucher program. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes."

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

In essence, the bill amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to allow for the establishment of the Illinois Apprenticeship Voucher Program. This program, contingent on available funds, is designed to provide financial assistance to apprentices upon completion of their registered apprenticeship programs by issuing a $300 voucher for the purchase of tools and equipment needed for their intended line of work. The Department will manage the Illinois Apprenticeship-to-Career Starter Kit Fund, a special fund in the State treasury for this purpose. Eligibility for the voucher requires certification from the apprenticeship program that the apprentice has graduated and that the program is based in Illinois. The bill also allows the Department to accept funds from various sources, including individuals, businesses, philanthropic organizations, and federal grants, for the funding of the voucher program.

Kevin Schmidt has proposed another 11 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Schmidt graduated from Logan University with a BS.

Kevin Schmidt is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 114th House District. He replaced previous state representative LaToya Greenwood 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
HB4038	04/08/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to availability of funds, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may establish the Illinois Apprenticeship Voucher Program for the purpose of providing funds to apprentices to pay for their tools and equipment upon completion of their registered apprenticeship program. Provides that Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall disburse the sum of $300 to each recipient in the form of a voucher for the purpose of paying for tools and equipment required in their intended line of work. Creates the Illinois Apprenticeship-to-Career Starter Kit Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Department for the purposes of the voucher program. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes.
HB3807	02/07/2025	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Establishes the Illinois Trades Retention and Development Encouragement (ITRADE) Grant Program to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award grants under the program to eligible applicants who (i) have graduated from high school or have received a State of Illinois High School Diploma, (ii) are pursuing or intend to pursue a qualifying degree or certificate at a qualified institution, and (iii) are entitled to apply for assistance. Provides that a qualifying degree or certificate is an associate degree or certificate granted by a qualified institution in a field related to the trades, including, but not limited to, electrical work, plumbing, masonry, steel working, fabrication, or construction. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB2743	02/05/2025	Amends the Salaries Act. Deletes provisions made by Public Act 102-1115. Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Removes changes made by Public Act 102-1115.
HB1421	01/16/2025	Creates the Veterans Day Paid Leave Act. Requires each employer, subject to certain exceptions, to provide each employee who is a veteran with a paid day off on Veterans Day if the employee would otherwise be required to work on that day. Provides that the employee must provide notice to the employer that he or she intends to take time off on Veterans Day and must provide the employer with documentation verifying that he or she is a veteran. Contains provisions concerning circumstances under which an employer may deny such a time off request. Provides that, if the employer denies the time off request, the employer must make a good faith effort to provide the employee with a substitute day on which the employee may receive paid time off. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to 100% of the wages paid by the taxpayer to a veteran as a result of the paid day off required under the Veterans Day Paid Leave Act. Effective immediately.
HB1422	01/16/2025	Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that gaming special agents employed by the Illinois Gaming Board shall be deemed to be qualified law enforcement officers or, for retired gaming special agents formerly employed by the Illinois Gaming Board, shall be deemed qualified retired or separated law enforcement officers in Illinois for purposes of coverage under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 and shall have all rights and privileges granted by that Act if the gaming special agent or retired gaming special agent is otherwise compliant with the applicable laws of this State governing the implementation and administration of the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 in the State of Illinois. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Exempts gaming special agents and retired gaming special agents from the unlawful use of weapons violations for carrying or possessing firearms in a vehicle or concealed on or about their person or carrying or possessing firearms on or about their person upon any public street, alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a municipality.
HB0047	01/09/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. In a provision concerning the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, provides that, beginning in taxable year 2026, the taxpayer's annual household income for purposes of determining eligibility for the exemption shall be reduced by any amounts paid by the taxpayer as Medicare premiums during the calendar year. Effective immediately.
HB0058	01/09/2025	Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates a sales tax holiday period for certain school supplies from August 2, 2025 through August 11, 2025. Effective immediately.
HB0059	01/09/2025	Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Requires the adopted school board policy for a remote educational program to allow a student to apply to participate in the remote educational program if the student (i) provides an employee pay stub, (ii) has a medical need, including pregnancy, or (iii) needs to care for a family member, including the student's own child.
HB1066	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group health plan or an accident and health insurer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under applicable State law. Provides that nothing in the provisions shall be construed as preventing a group health plan, an accident and health insurer, or the Director of Insurance from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.
HB1120	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Removes a provision that requires the Secretary of State to designate on each driver's license issued a space where the licensee may indicate his blood type and RH factor.
HB1121	01/09/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of the county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from an electronic reporting system for death registrations as provided in the Vital Records Act and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who died during the preceding month.
HB1125	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Deletes language providing for reduced registration fees for active duty military personnel. Provides instead that the standard vehicle registration fee for passenger motor vehicles of the first division and motor vehicles of the second division weighing not more than 8,000 pounds shall be waived for active duty military personnel. Effective immediately.