HB 917 is sponsored by Curtis J. Tarver, II (Democrat), Nicholas K. Smith (Democrat), Yolonda Morris (Democrat), Lisa Davis (Democrat), Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (Democrat), Justin Slaughter (Democrat), Rita Mayfield (Democrat), Maurice A. West, II (Democrat), Kam Buckner (Democrat), William "Will" Davis (Democrat), Michael Crawford (Democrat), Sonya M. Harper (Democrat), Camille Y. Lilly (Democrat), Jehan Gordon-Booth (Democrat), Debbie Meyers-Martin (Democrat), Mary Beth Canty (Democrat), Thaddeus Jones (Democrat), Carol Ammons (Democrat), Don Harmon (Democrat), Jawaharial Williams (Democrat), and Kimberly Du Buclet (Democrat).

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Illinois 104th Regular Session Status: Passed House 21 D cosponsors

HB 917 — STATE GOVERNMENT-TECH

Last action April 21, 2026 — Referred to Assignments

✓
Introduced
✓
In Committee
3
Passed House
4
Passed Senate
5
To Executive
6
Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 17, 2024. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · moderate confidence

Passed House

Current position in the legislative process.
21 sponsors

2 primary, 19 co-sponsors signed on.
Single-party support

Sponsorship is currently within one party (21 D).
Cleared a recorded vote

Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

88 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of HB 917 introduces a new section that establishes a "flagship cultural district" within larger municipalities in Illinois, specifically those with populations over 500,000. This district aims to promote arts, entertainment, history, and culture, while also fostering economic development and preserving culturally significant sites. This change is important as it seeks to enhance local economies through cultural initiatives and support community development, making these areas more vibrant and appealing.

~~*LRB10404815SPS14842b*~~ HB0917 ~~104TH~~Engrossed ~~GENERAL~~LRB104 ~~ASSEMBLY~~04815 ~~State~~SPS of14842 ~~Illinois~~b ~~and~~AN ~~2026~~ACT ~~HB0917~~concerning ~~Introduced~~State ~~1/9/2025,~~government. by ~~Rep.~~

~~Emanuel "Chris" Welch SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:~~

~~ILCS 210/1 from Ch.~~

~~127, par.~~

~~1701 concerning the short title.t.~~

~~Makes a technical change in a Section LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b A BILL FOR HB0917 LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b AN ACT concerning State government.~~

The ~~State~~Department ~~Fair~~of ~~Act~~Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by ~~changing~~adding Section 1605-1058 as follows:

(20 ILCS ~~210/1)~~605/605-1058 ~~(from~~new) ~~Ch.~~Sec.

~~127,~~605-1058. ~~par.~~

~~1701)~~Flagship ~~Sec.~~cultural district.

1.(a) As used in this Section, "flagship cultural district" means a geographic area in a municipality with a population greater than 500,000 that is certified under this Section as an area in which the arts, entertainment, history, and culture are provided.

~~This~~(b) ~~Act~~Municipalities ~~shall~~or beorganizations ~~known~~working ~~and~~on ~~and~~behalf ~~may~~of bea ~~cited~~certified asflagship ~~the~~cultural ~~"State~~district ~~Fair~~should ~~Act".~~seek to:

~~(Source:~~(1) promote the State and the flagship cultural district's host municipality as a flagship world hub for arts, entertainment, history, and culture;

~~P.A.~~(2) encourage economic development and support entrepreneurship in the certified geographic area and community, particularly in the fields of arts, entertainment, and culture and supporting industries;

~~81-853.)~~(3) encourage the preservation and development of HB0917 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b historic and culturally significant structures, traditions, and languages;

(4) foster local cultural development and education;

(5) provide a focal point for celebrating and strengthening the unique cultural identity of the State and the flagship cultural district's host municipality;

(6) promote growth and opportunity without generating displacement or expanding inequality;

and (7) promote tourism and further enhance the State and the flagship cultural district's host municipality's place as a global destination.

(c) The Department shall establish criteria and guidelines for designation of a flagship cultural district by rule in accordance with qualifying criteria outlined in subsection (d).

In executing its powers and duties under this Section, the Department shall:

(1) establish an application system by which a 501(c)(3) organization may apply for certification as a flagship cultural district;

(2) provide technical assistance for a flagship cultural district by collaborating with all relevant offices and grantees of the Department to help them identify and achieve their goals for cultural preservation, including, but not limited to, promotional support of the flagship cultural district and support for small businesses looking to access resources;

and HB0917 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b (3) collaborate with other State agencies, units of local government, community organizations, and private entities to maximize the benefits of the flagship cultural district.

(d) A geographic area in a municipality with a population greater than 500,000 may be certified as a flagship cultural district by applying to the Department for certification.

Certification as a flagship cultural district shall be for a period of 10 years, after which the district may renew certification every 5 years.

Any applicant for certification on behalf of a geographic area shall be a 501(c)(3) organization.

The applying entity is responsible for complying with reporting requirements under subsection (f).

The Department shall develop criteria to assess whether an applicant qualifies for certification under this Section.

That criteria must include a demonstration that the applicant and the community that they can provide:

(1) a unified and inclusive approach to creating cultural engagement opportunities within its designated geographic area;

and (2) strong community support for the flagship cultural district designation through participation by community organizations and state, regional, and municipal government agencies or officials.

(e) No later than September 30, 2026, the Department shall award one flagship cultural district.

HB0917 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b (f) Within 12 months after being designated a flagship cultural district, the flagship cultural district shall submit a report to the Department detailing its current programs and goals for the next 4 years of its designation.

For each year thereafter that the district remains a flagship cultural district, it shall submit a report to the Department on the status of the programs and future developments of the district.

Any flagship cultural district that fails to file a report for 2 consecutive years shall lose its status as a flagship cultural district.

Section 99.

Effective date.

This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

Latest

~~*LRB10404815SPS14842b*~~ HB0917 ~~104TH~~ ~~GENERAL~~ ~~ASSEMBLY~~ ~~State~~ of ~~Illinois~~ ~~and~~ ~~2026~~ ~~HB0917~~ ~~Introduced~~ ~~1/9/2025,~~ by ~~Rep.~~

HB0917 Engrossed LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b AN ACT concerning State government.

~~Emanuel "Chris" Welch SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:~~

~~ILCS 210/1 from Ch.~~

~~127, par.~~

~~1701 concerning the short title.t.~~

~~Makes a technical change in a Section LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b A BILL FOR HB0917 LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b AN ACT concerning State government.~~

The ~~State~~ ~~Fair~~ ~~Act~~ is amended by ~~changing~~ Section 1 as follows:

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 605-1058 as follows:

(20 ILCS ~~210/1)~~ ~~(from~~ ~~Ch.~~

(20 ILCS 605/605-1058 new) Sec.

~~127,~~ ~~par.~~

605-1058.

~~1701)~~ ~~Sec.~~

Flagship cultural district.

(a) As used in this Section, "flagship cultural district" means a geographic area in a municipality with a population greater than 500,000 that is certified under this Section as an area in which the arts, entertainment, history, and culture are provided.

~~This~~ ~~Act~~ ~~shall~~ be ~~known~~ ~~and~~ ~~and~~ ~~may~~ be ~~cited~~ as ~~the~~ ~~"State~~ ~~Fair~~ ~~Act".~~

(b) Municipalities or organizations working on behalf of a certified flagship cultural district should seek to:

~~(Source:~~

(1) promote the State and the flagship cultural district's host municipality as a flagship world hub for arts, entertainment, history, and culture;

~~P.A.~~

(2) encourage economic development and support entrepreneurship in the certified geographic area and community, particularly in the fields of arts, entertainment, and culture and supporting industries;

~~81-853.)~~

(3) encourage the preservation and development of HB0917 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 04815 SPS 14842 b historic and culturally significant structures, traditions, and languages;