Summary#
HB 5820, titled “Ulysses S. Grant Day,” would amend the Illinois State Commemorative Dates Act. Its stated goal is to honor Grant for his Illinois connection, Civil War leadership, and civil-rights record. The bill is introduced and is not law; if enacted, it would take effect immediately.
- April 27 each year would be designated Ulysses S. Grant Day throughout Illinois.
- The day would be set apart to honor Grant, but the bill does not specify what observance must involve.
- The bill does not set out a program, assign an agency to organize events, or give anyone specific duties.
What it means for you#
- Illinois residents: April 27 would be a statewide commemorative day. The bill does not say that residents must take part in any activity.
- Workers, students, and public services: The bill does not say that workplaces or schools close, that employees receive paid leave, or that services change.
- State government: The bill does not name an office responsible for arranging observances or explain what the state’s role would be.
Money#
No cost information is in the available material.
- The bill does not appropriate money or set fees, fines, or payments.
- The cost, if any, of state or local observances is not stated.
What is unclear#
- The bill does not define what it means for the day to be “observed” or say who would organize observances.
- It does not explain whether schools, state offices, or other public bodies are expected to do anything.
- The State Commemorative Dates Act as a whole was not supplied, so how this designation fits with its existing provisions could not be verified.
- No publicly available information is provided about implementation costs.
Case for#
- A possible argument for the bill is that it would give Illinois a regular day to recognize Grant’s ties to Galena and his public service.
- The designation is limited: it does not create a new program or require a particular event.
- A statewide date could give schools, communities, or public bodies an opportunity to mark Grant’s history, though the bill does not require them to do so.
Case against#
- The bill does not explain what observance means or who is responsible for it, so the designation may have little practical effect.
- It does not provide funding or guidance for educational or public activities.
- Because the bill does not say whether schools or public offices should take part, its practical effect on them is unclear.