Douglas Scott Dorando

This annual report of the Illinois Homeland Security Advisory Council highlights its work in 2025 and outlines strategic priorities for 2026 and beyond, functioning as a guidepost for the state's homeland security mission. Key strategic priorities include building resilient communities, securing critical infrastructure, ensuring proactive risk and threat visibility, integrating cybersecurity and homeland security, and fostering an agile homeland security enterprise. These focus areas aim to manage complex risks, strengthen resilience, expand coordination, enhance information sharing, prioritize finite resources, and build capabilities that can evolve, ensuring Illinois is prepared for current and future risks.

The meeting commenced with the call to order and the approval of minutes from the July 23, 2025, and August 11, 2025, full membership meetings. Discussions included updates on homeland security from the IEMA-OHS Deputy Director, an intelligence briefing, and a cybersecurity update. Under Old Business, the Council discussed and approved the FFY25 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) project submission, which reflected a significant reduction in allocated amounts. A motion was passed to approve the prioritized unmet needs project list for FFY22 HSGP and SFY26 Preparedness and Response (PAR) Grant reallocations. A reminder was issued regarding the mandatory OneNet training completion status, which was reported at approximately 40%. New Business covered the timeline for the 2025 IL-HSAC Annual Report submission and the upcoming 2026 HSAC meeting schedule.

This Executive Order, issued by the Governor of Illinois, mandates the acquisition of zero-emission vehicles and supporting equipment for state fleets. It establishes an electric vehicle acquisition program and a State Fleet Working Group to develop procedures for cost analysis, seek external funding, evaluate financing options, and assess infrastructure needs for electric vehicle chargers. The order also directs the installation of EV chargers on state property for state fleets, employees, and the public, and promotes collaboration to assist school districts in acquiring zero-emission school buses, aiming to reduce emissions and transition to a clean energy economy.

The meeting included state homeland security updates from the IEMA-OHS Acting Director and Deputy Director. There was a discussion of prioritization of unmet needs projects for FFY22 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) and SFY26 Preparedness and Response (PAR) grant program. The one-year extension request for FFY23 HSGP was approved, which will now expire August 31, 2027. Members were reminded to complete their annual OneNet training by October 17. The FFY25 HSGP project submissions list was discussed and will be voted on at the October 22 full HSAC meeting.

The meeting included homeland security updates, an intelligence briefing from the Illinois State Police, and a cybersecurity briefing from the Department of Innovation and Technology. The council discussed and approved SFY26 Preparedness and Response (PAR) Grant Program projects and the budget. Updates were provided on the FFY25 Homeland Security Grant Program and Unmet Needs List Projects (FFY22 HSGP). The importance of advocating for the work the HSAC does and documenting the impact of investments was stressed.