SPRINGFIELD – Members of the National Guard and Reserve who are college or university students will soon be able to make up coursework they missed due to military obligations, thanks to a new law State Senator Mike Porfirio spearheaded through the General Assembly.

“This new law ensures our National Guard and Reserve members can fulfill their military duties without jeopardizing their academic progress,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “This is a vital step in supporting their dual commitment to both education and service.”

According to Student Veterans of America, around 16% of military students are members of the Reserve or National Guard. The new law ensures fair treatment for these students by requiring public colleges and universities in Illinois to enact policies allowing students to complete missed classwork and assignments if the reason for the student’s absence was to fulfill military obligations. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Porfirio championed a new law requiring public colleges and universities to waive transcript evaluation fees for refugees of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This is a small but significant way to honor the sacrifices made by our Iraqi and Afghan allies,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township), who served alongside Iraqi and Afghan translators during Operation Iraqi Freedom and as a police advisor during the war in Afghanistan. “We have a moral obligation to support those who have served shoulder to shoulder with us, and by waiving foreign transcript evaluation fees, we are removing barriers to their education and professional opportunities, helping them rebuild their lives and continue contributing to our communities.” 

Transcript evaluations assess foreign transcripts as part of the admissions process for higher education institutions. These evaluations are used to establish a U.S.-equivalent GPA, verify the accreditation of the foreign school, and benchmark completed coursework to determine if the applicant has met the prerequisite coursework requirements for their intended program.

SPRINGFIELD – Veterans and service members across the state will soon have enhanced benefits knowledge, thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Mike Porfirio.

“This law ensures our veterans have easy access to critical information, helping them fully utilize the support they’ve earned through their service,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “In making this information more accessible, we are empowering veterans to take full advantage of the resources they deserve while reflecting our deep gratitude to those who have served our nation.”

Porfirio’s law requires the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs to produce and distribute a comprehensive benefits, services and protections poster. Through the new law, veterans and service members will have streamlined access to information about critical resources — such as tax benefits and the Illinois veteran driver’s license — that will empower them to navigate the complexities of their available support systems effectively. The law centralizes essential information in one accessible format, helping to facilitate informed decision-making.

House Bill 4757 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect on Jan. 1.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect our nation’s veterans from predatory business practices, State Senator Mike Porfirio and State Representative Stephanie Kifowit championed a new law combating businesses using deceptive practices to target veterans and their benefits.

“Our veterans are true American heroes and they deserve to have protections in all facets of their lives, especially when it comes to their hard-earned benefits,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township), a U.S. Navy veteran. “By protecting our veterans from exploitation, we’re making certain they have the support and respect they deserve and taking a crucial step forward in honoring their dedicated service.”

Often-unaccredited businesses offer misleading advice, including guaranteeing an increased disability rating or percentage increase, advertising expedited VA’s claim decisions and more. Additionally, the companies will attempt to take advantage of individuals by requesting login credentials to access a veteran’s personal information through secure VA websites.