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Executive Order 2026-05

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2026-05 EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ILLINOIS MULTI-SECTOR PLAN FOR AGING

May 20, 2026

WHEREAS, Executive Order 2024-02, issued on August 23, 2024, and titled “Executive Order to Establish Multi-Sector Plan for Aging (MPA),” sought to address the need for innovative, coordinated action across sectors in Illinois to meet the evolving needs of a growing aging population; and,

WHEREAS, pursuant to Executive Order 2024-02, an MPA Task Force, an MPA Advisory Council, and a Chief Planning Officer (“Chief”) were established to develop a coordinated and actionable plan to be delivered to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025; and,

WHEREAS, Executive Order 2024-02 charged the MPA Task Force, the MPA Advisory Council, and a Chief Planning Officer with developing a comprehensive blueprint designed to strengthen coordination across sectors and advance age-friendly communities with high-quality, person-centered support for older adults and people with disabilities; and,

WHEREAS, the Executive Order also tasked the MPA Task Force, the MPA Advisory Council, and the Chief Planning Officer to recommend actions to (a) address age-related demographic changes and their impact; (b) strengthen care infrastructure and support caregivers; (c) improve the quality, accessibility, and availability of long-term services and supports to help more older persons to remain in their homes and communities; (d) protect financial security and prevent fraud and financial exploitation; (e) expand access to technology and bridge the digital divide; and (f) advance health equity in the context of aging; and,

WHEREAS, development of the MPA included extensive stakeholder engagement across sectors including housing, transportation, health care, and economic development, and was informed by nine public engagement sessions involving hundreds of Illinois residents; and,

WHEREAS, on December 23, 2025, the MPA Task Force, the MPA Advisory Council, and the Chief Planning Officer provided to the Governor and the General Assembly the State of Illinois’ MPA, titled EngAging Illinois: A Comprehensive Plan for Living Well (EngAging Illinois); and,

WHEREAS, EngAging Illinois establishes priorities to ensure Illinois’ counties, cities, and towns are great places to both grow up and grow older, and describes strategies to improve and transform services, policies, and programs critical to aging well; and,

WHEREAS, EngAging Illinois is organized around four key focus areas: 1) Creating Livable and Connected Communities; 2) Ensuring Health for All Ages; 3) Investing in Caregivers; and 4) Affording Aging; and,

WHEREAS, carrying out the EngAging Illinois blueprint will involve a wide range of State agencies, local governments, nonprofit, philanthropic and private sector partners to meaningfully support all people as they get older; and,

WHEREAS, implementation of EngAging Illinois requires ongoing accountability, coordination, and reporting;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois, pursuant to the executive authority vested in me by Article V, Section 11 of the Illinois Constitution, hereby order the following:

  1. The EngAging Illinois Multisector Plan for Aging Commission (EIMPAC or Commission) is established to guide, coordinate, and oversee implementation of EngAging Illinois across State government and its partner organizations.
  2. Members of the Commission will:
    1. Provide cross-sector expertise to guide implementation;
    2. Participate in and convene workgroups aligned with the Plan’s focus areas;
    3. Monitor implementation progress and identify barriers and opportunities; and
    4. Work together to make Illinois a leader among states in supporting its population of older adults to achieve high quality, purposeful lives and maximize positive outcomes for society.
  3. The Commission shall be appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department on Aging and shall include at least ten members reflecting the geographic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity of the state, along with the Directors/Secretaries of the State Agencies listed below or their designees; two members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the House Speaker and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; and two members of the Illinois Senate, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Republican Leader of the Senate.
    1. State Agencies, Officers, and Commissions:
      • Department on Aging
      • Department of Children & Family Services
      • Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
      • Department of Corrections
      • Department of Healthcare and Family Services
      • Department of Human Rights
      • Department of Human Services
      • Department of Insurance     
      • Department of Labor
      • Department of Public Health
      • Department of Transportation
      • Department of Veterans’ Affairs
      • Illinois Arts Council
      • Illinois Board of Higher Education
      • Illinois Community College Board
      • Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
      • Illinois Deaf & Hard of Hearing Commission
      • Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission
      • Illinois Housing Development Authority
      • Office to Prevent and End Homelessness
      • Office of the State Ombudsman
  4. The Commission shall be co-chaired by the Chief Planning Officer along with an individual external to State government, designated by the Director of the Illinois Department on Aging. The Chief Planning Officer shall:
    1. Lead day-to-day implementation of EngAging Illinois;
    2. Coordinate across State agencies and partners;
    3. Track performance and implementation progress;
    4. Submit the first annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on December 31, 2026; and
    5. Submit an annual report on progress to the Governor and General Assembly by March 31, 2028, and annually each year thereafter.
  5. Members of the Commission will serve as volunteers without compensation.
  6. The Commission shall meet at least four times a year.
  7. The Illinois Department on Aging shall provide administrative support to the Commission. Additional support may be provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department of Public Health, research partners, and private philanthropic foundations committed to advancing the goals of EngAging Illinois. The Chief Planning Officer may identify additional resources to aid in the implementation of EngAging Illinois.
  8. To advance the Commission’s work, the Department on Aging is directed to pursue Illinois’ designation as an AARP “Age-Friendly State” and continue promoting the efforts of existing local “Age-Friendly Communities” in Illinois.
  9. State agencies shall cooperate with the Chief Planning Officer and the Commission by providing data, information, and staff support necessary to implement EngAging Illinois.
  10. The Chief Planning Officer may update the Plan every three years, as necessary.
  11. The Commission will sunset no later than December 31, 2036.
  12. This Executive Order does not contravene, and shall not be construed to contravene any contracts, agreements, or collective bargaining agreements.
  13. This Executive Order supersedes any contrary provision of any other prior Executive Order.
  14. If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
  15. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State.

           

_____________________

JB Pritzker

Governor

Issued by the Governor: May 20, 2026

Filed with the Secretary of State: May 20, 2026