"Governor Pritzker Strengthens Native American Protections in Illinois with New Laws"
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a new law that grants tribal nations the final say over the repatriation and reburial of ancestral remains and sacred items, shifting power away from state agencies, universities, and museums. The law, shaped through consultations with tribal nations and following ProPublica's investigation into delayed repatriation, establishes a state Repatriation and Reinterment Fund and increases penalties for grave desecration. It also empowers the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to set aside land for reburial. The law is part of a broader effort to center Native voices in Illinois and address the state's poor repatriation track record.