Amends the Illinois Century Network Act. Provides that the connection of anchor institutions to the Illinois Century Network shall be prioritized according to the type of anchor institution, starting with schools and libraries.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Authorizes a supervisor or trustee of a township with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants, during the term of office for which the supervisor or trustee is elected, to hold the office of school board member for a school district. Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township board may not direct a distribution to be made from the township's general fund to a school district if a supervisor or trustee of the township is concurrently serving as a school board member of that school district. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Local Advisory Committees on Special Education Act. Allows each school district or regional cooperative program providing special education services to establish and appoint a local advisory committee on special education if a local advisory committee is requested by more than 3 parents or guardians of the students receiving the services. Establishes the membership and responsibilities of a local advisory committee and the duties of the school district or regional cooperative program. Provides that members of a local advisory committee shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/9/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows a school district to place a student in a nonpublic day facility or residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education (rather than a nonpublic residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education) if the State Board of Education provides an emergency and student-specific approval for residential or day placement. Makes changes to provisions concerning the circumstances under which the State Board of Education will grant such an approval. Grants jurisdiction to the State Board's impartial due process hearing officer to resolve disputes involving the need for placement in a non-approved, student-specific, emergency placement, the selection of the facility, and whether an approved facility is an appropriate alternative to a non-approved facility. Makes conforming and other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Downstate Teacher and Chicago Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that none of the benefits provided for in either Article shall be paid to a person if the person first becomes a member on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and a board, after an administrative hearing, determines that the person sexually abused a student. Provides that an employer must notify a board if a retiring member has been accused of sexually abusing a student. Provides that a board may, through an administrative hearing, review the claim of sexual abuse and may order that benefits be forfeited. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall not operate to impair any contract or vested right acquired before the effective date of the amendatory Act nor to preclude the right to a refund. Provides that all teachers entering service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be deemed to have consented to the provisions of the amendatory Act as a condition of membership. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/9/2025 - Referred to House Rules

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot. Provides, however, that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act until September 1, 2028 if specified requirements are met. Provides that for any school whose team name is the name of a federally recognized tribe or historical Native American person, the school may continue to use its current team name and an agreed upon logo and mascot on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act if certain conditions are met. Provides that nothing in the provisions may be interpreted to prohibit county, municipality, or school district names.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the Government Zero-Emission Vehicle Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2030, all passenger vehicles, except for law enforcement vehicles, purchased or leased by a governmental unit must be manufactured in the United States by a company that is headquartered in the United States.

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Defines the terms "manufactured in the United States" and "United States".

  CURRENT STATUS

3/27/2025 - House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. By July 15 of each year, requires certain school boards to report, on their school district's website, a list of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction during the previous school year. Requires that the report also include any procedures that are in effect at each school for the documentation, review, or approval of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction. Specifies the minimum information that must be included in the report. Allows a school district to update the report on an ongoing basis and to utilize collaborative online document or spreadsheet software to update or make additions to the report. Sets forth other requirements. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Creates the Local Government Elected Official Recall Act. Provides that local officeholders who were elected during a general or consolidated election may be recalled under the Act. Establishes petition requirements for recall elections. Limits home rule powers.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the State Commemorative Dates Act. Provides that the name of each federal holiday and State holiday designated on a unit of local government's calendar must match the name of the federal holiday and State holiday as designated by the State. Defines "federal holiday" and "State holiday". Limits home rule powers. Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning legal holidays, requires the name of each federal and State holiday as specified in that provision to be the name of the holiday that is designated on a school district's calendar for the school term. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code with respect to the waiver or modification of mandates provisions. Requires the notice of public hearing to be published on all social media accounts maintained and operated by a school district (rather than in a newspaper of general circulation). Provides that if no social media account exists, the notice of public hearing must be published in a newspaper of general circulation. Changes references from "published notice" to "public notice". Removes the requirement that local State legislators be notified. Provides that if an eligible applicant does not have a collective bargaining agreement with a collective bargaining unit, the notification requirement is waived. Provides that no waiver of the right to notification of the collective bargaining unit representing the eligible applicant's territory is permitted. Requires verification of the publication of the notice of hearing that is posted on an applicant's website to include an image or screen shot of the post with the date, time and URL present, and provides that if the notice of hearing was published in a newspaper, the applicant must provide a copy of the newspaper posting or certificate of publication provided by the newspaper. Provides that if the General Assembly fails to take action on any waiver request that was disapproved (rather than fails to disapprove any waiver request) or appealed request within a 60-day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed denied (rather than granted). Makes changes concerning renewing, changing, and rescinding approved waivers and modifications and physical education mandates.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a charter from being granted to an organization that operates a private, parochial, or non-public school or child care facility. Provides that a charter school shall spend no less than 90% of its budget on direct-service costs for students. Removes provisions regarding the closure of charter schools, the use of unspent public funds, and the procedures for disposition of property and assets. Requires the governing body of a charter school that is the subject of a school action to work collaboratively with local school educators and families of students attending the charter school to ensure successful integration of affected students into new learning environments. Requires, for a charter school closure, the governing body of the charter school to ensure that all students of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a seat at a receiving school and that all teachers of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a job at a receiving school. Sets forth requirements for school transition plans. Requires the governing body of the charter school to designate at least 3 opportunities for public comment at a hearing or meeting on the proposed school action.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

House Committee Amendment No. 1 - Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying prevention, provides that if a school district distributes materials on bullying to students, the materials must be age and developmentally appropriate. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - House Bills on Third Reading

Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act. Provides that beginning on July 1, 2026, a preschool educational program funded by the Department of Early Childhood may admit children ages 3 to 5 who do not otherwise qualify for program services under the low income or at-risk criteria described under the Act if and only if open enrollment slots are available in the program after all reasonable efforts have been made to fill those slots with qualifying children. Provides that a preschool educational program that admits non-qualifying children must demonstrate, as prescribed by the Department, that it made all reasonable efforts to fill all enrollment slots with qualifying children. Provides that failure to demonstrate such efforts may result in a reduction in the grant amount awarded for the program. Effective July 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to its affiliated county board and certify its full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of the county clerk's or coroner's report and allows for relief if the county clerk fails to provide an accurate report within specified timeframes. Prohibits a political committee from making expenditures for payments to attorneys, expert witnesses, investigators, or others to provide a defense in a criminal case. Amends the Attorney General Act. Creates an Office of Election Integrity within the Office of the Attorney General. Provides that the purpose of the Office is to aid the State Board of Elections in completion of its duties under the Election Code. Provides that the Office shall develop and create a voter fraud hotline within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that by January 15 of each year, the Office shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives detailing information on investigations of alleged election law violations or election irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Qualifications of Voters Article of the Election Code. Provides that a person may not register to vote in the election district in which the person attends an educational institution if that person does not reside in the election district in which that educational institution is located.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity an Illinois driver's license or an Illinois Identification Card. Provides that a person who claims to be a registered voter is entitled to cast a provisional ballot if the voter fails to provide the required Illinois driver's license or Illinois Identification Card. Provides that a provisional voter has 7 days to provide the county clerk or board of election commissioners with the provisional voter's Illinois driver's license or Illinois Identification Card. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Employment of Teachers Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning holidays, provides that a school board or other entity eligible to apply for waivers and modifications under the Code is authorized to hold school or schedule teachers' institutes, parent-teacher conferences, or staff development on November 3, 2026 (2026 General Election Day) if certain conditions are met. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Prohibits a political committee from making certain expenditures to provide a defense in any criminal case or a defense in a civil case against any claims that a person has committed misconduct in his or her capacity as a public official, any claims of sexual harassment, or any claims of discrimination. Requires that a person found to have used campaign contributions in violation of the Code shall return contributions to the contributor or pay to the State if the contributor cannot be identified or reimbursed. Requires the political committee to include information on the contributions returned to the contributor or paid to the State in the committee's quarterly report to the State Board of Elections.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code, the Park District Code, the Illinois Local Library Act, and the School Code. In provisions concerning vacancies in certain elected offices, requires that, if a vacancy occurs in a specified office with at least 32 months remaining in the term of the office and at least 141 days before the next election for that office, then the vacancy shall be filled in that election. Provides that, if a vacancy occurs in a specified office with less than 32 months remaining in the term of the office or less than 141 days before the next election for that office, then the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by the person that was appointed to the office to fill the vacancy. In provisions concerning vacancies in offices with 2-year terms, requires that, if a vacancy occurs in a specified office at least 141 days before the next election for that office, then the vacancy shall be filled in that election.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Ballots Article of the Election Code. Provides that the governing body of a municipality may adopt, upon submission of a written statement by the municipality's election authority attesting to the administrative ability of the election authority to administer an election using a ranked ballot to the municipality's governing body, an ordinance requiring a ranked vote by mail ballot for municipal and township office candidates to be voted on in the consolidated election or consolidated primary election (rather than only the consolidated election). Provides that the governing body of a municipality may adopt an ordinance allowing any qualified voter to use a ranked vote by mail ballot for any municipal and township election. Sets forth provisions concerning ranked ballots for nonpartisan primary elections. Removes language providing that a ranked ballot shall be for use only by a qualified voter who either is a member of the United States military or will be outside of the United States on the consolidated primary election day and the consolidated election day. Effective January 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Provides that any appointments to the Chicago Board of Education made by the Mayor of the City of Chicago shall be made with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning electioneering or soliciting of votes within any polling place, removes a provision allowing a church or private school to prohibit electioneering on any of the property of that church or private school.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by federal law, any person who is not a citizen of the United States and who knowingly registers to vote or knowingly votes in an election, including a municipal election, shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. Provides that, except as otherwise provided by federal law, any person who knowingly registers a person to vote who is not a citizen of the United States shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Requires Voters Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable photo ID. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card. In provisions concerning the receipt of vote by mail ballots, provides that an election authority shall appoint panels as needed of 3 election judges from the list of election judges submitted by the county parties to compare the voter's signature on the certification envelope of the vote by mail ballot with the signature of the voter on file in the office of the election authority. Provides the procedure for verifying or rejecting the signature. Provides that if a vote by mail ballot is rejected, the election authority shall notify the voter within 2 days after the rejection or within one day if the rejection occurs after election day and in all cases before the close of the period for counting provisional ballots. Allows a voter to submit a statement confirming the vote if the signature was rejected. Allows a voter to cast a new ballot if the vote by mail ballot was rejected because the envelope was delivered opened.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Removes a provision that provides that the State Board of Elections shall adjust the amounts of the contribution limits for inflation.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Requires Voters Identification Cards for those who do not have an acceptable photo ID. Sets forth requirements and exemptions. Provides that any person desiring to vote shall present to the judges of election for verification of the person's identity a government-issued photo identification card or his or her Voter Identification Card.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Creates the Ranked-Choice Voting in State and Local Elections Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study the possibility of implementing ranked-choice voting for State and local elections. Directs the Task Force (1) to engage election officials, interested groups, and members of the public for the purpose of assessing the adoption and implementation of ranked-choice voting in State and local elections beginning in the 2029 consolidated election; (2) to review standards used to certify or approve the use of a voting system, including the standards adopted by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the State Board of Elections; (3) to advise whether the voting system used by this State's election authorities would be able to accommodate alternative methods of voting, including, but not limited to, ranked-choice voting; and (4) to make recommendations or suggestions for changes to the Election Code or administrative rules for certification of voting systems in Illinois to accommodate alternative methods of voting, including ranked-choice voting. Provides that, on or before June 30, 2027, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations and other specified information. Sets forth provisions concerning membership and administrative support. Dissolves the Task Force and repeals the provision on July 1, 2027. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Provides that no later than 30 days before a school district submits to the voters of that district a question on whether to issue bonds or increase the school district's property tax rate, the school district must send informational material to each resident of voting age in the school district; defines "informational material". Specifies what must be included in the informational material. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Deletes a provision prohibiting political fundraising on the day immediately before a day the legislature is in session.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a person shall not distribute, or enter into an agreement with another person to distribute, materially deceptive media if: (1) the person knows the media falsely represents a depicted individual; (2) the distribution occurs within 90 days before an election; (3) the person intends the distribution to harm the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate in an election or otherwise deceive voters; and (4) the person intends the distribution to change the voting behavior of electors in an election by deceiving the electors into incorrectly believing that the depicted individual in fact engaged in the speech or conduct depicted, and the distribution is reasonably likely to cause that result. Sets forth exceptions to the provision and penalties for violations of the provision. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a permanent polling place for early voting must remain open beginning the 15th day before an election through the end of the day before election day during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on weekdays (currently, during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on weekdays).

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall exercise the powers to impose campaign disclosure penalties; to hear and adjudicate alleged violations of registration requirements; to revoke or suspend raffle licenses for political committees that violate the Raffles and Poker Runs Act; and to inform the Attorney General or the State's Attorney of credible alleged criminal violations.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning primary election ballots, provides that the lettering of candidate names on a ballot shall be in both capital and lowercase letters in conformance with standard English language guidelines, unless compliance is not feasible due to the election system utilized by the election authority.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Includes LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the topics covered in the required 4-hour training for every voting member of a school board of a school district. Lists information that must be included in the LGBTQ+ inclusivity training. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a training program in collaboration with individuals or organizations that affirm LGBTQ+ people and have recognized expertise in supporting LGBTQ+ young people or adopt a training program previously developed by such individuals or organizations.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, on the date of the election, after the closing of polling locations (rather than no later than 48 hours after the closing of polling locations on election day), each election authority (rather than each election authority maintaining a website) shall post the number of ballots that remain uncounted on its website. Provides that all election authorities shall share the same information with the State Board of Elections, on the date of the election, after the closing of polling locations (rather than, no later than 48 hours after the closing of polling locations). Provides that ballots must be received by the election authority before the closing of the polls on election day (rather than returned to the election authority postmarked no later than election day). Removes a provision that allows election authorities to accept any vote by mail ballot returned, including ballots returned with insufficient or no postage. Removes a provision that authorizes election authorities to maintain one or more secure collection sites for the postage-free return of vote by mail ballots. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/4/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Provides that members of the General Assembly and the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall be elected by ranked-choice voting. Provides for ranked-choice ballots to be produced. Provides that voters may rank their choice for candidates for those offices and provides for interpretations of certain ballot marks. Provides that tallying ranked-choice votes proceeds in rounds. Provides that in each round, the number of votes for each continuing candidate must be counted, that each continuing ballot counts as one vote for its highest-ranked continuing candidate for that round, and that exhausted ballots are not counted for any continuing candidate. Provides that if only 2 candidates remain, the candidate with the higher vote total wins, and that if more than 2 candidates remain, the last-place candidate is eliminated and another round of tallying is to commence. Provides that rounds continue until a winner is found. Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Allows polling places to offer mock elections for children to teach them the basics of the electoral process.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that "separate public special education day school" does not mean any school in a school district that exceeds its Adequacy Target under the evidence-based funding formula. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions requiring an additional employer contribution for certain salary increases greater than 6%, provides that the System shall exclude salary increases given on or after July 1, 2025 resulting from overload work, including summer school, when the school district has certified to the System, and the System has approved the certification, that (i) the overload work is for the sole purpose of classroom instruction in excess of the standard number of classes for a full-time teacher in a school district during a school year and (ii) the salary increases are equal to or less than the rate of pay for classroom instruction computed on the teacher's current salary and work schedule. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. In provisions concerning the objection to specified election documents, adds references to declarations of intent to be a write-in-candidate.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that any county in which there is a city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners may establish that municipal board of election commissioners as a county board of election commissioners if approved by a referendum of the electors of the county. Provides that any county with a population of less than 300,000 persons (rather than less than 200,000 but more than 175,000 persons) as of the 2020 (rather than 2010) federal decennial census in which a city, village, or incorporated town with a board of election commissioners is located may establish a county board of election commissioners by vote of the electors of the county. Provides that a county board of election commissioners may not be dissolved unless the dissolution is approved by a referendum of the electors of the county.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the School Board Member Recall Act. Establishes procedures under which school board members that were elected during a consolidated election may be recalled. Provides for petition requirements for recall elections. Provides for requirements for recall ballots, including requirements for replacement candidates wishing to be listed on the recall ballot.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Provides that specified applications processed by the Secretary of State shall also serve as applications to apply for permanent vote by mail ballot status. Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that a copy of any nomination paper, certificate of nomination, or petition for a public question filed with an election authority for an immediately succeeding election shall be provided by the election authority within 48 hours after a written request is received by the election authority. Provides that a requester shall not be required to submit a request under the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall complete the validation and counting of provisional ballots within 7 calendar days (currently, 14 calendar days) of the day of the election. Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Election Code. Provides that ballots must be received by the election authority before the closing of the polls on election day (rather than returned to the election authority postmarked no later than election day). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to ensure parents and guardians of pupils enrolled in the school district are free to petition the school board and provide public comment at all public and regularly scheduled meetings, have access to certain information, are well-informed on specified subject matters, and have the right to meet with a pupil's teacher at least twice per school year. Requires a school board to ensure curriculum and learning materials are posted on the school district's Internet website. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning e-learning days, provides that a school or school district that offers e-learning days may not use any real property owned or leased by a school or school district to house migrants while students are not present at a school. Provides that a school or school district may not utilize an e-learning day to house migrants on any real property owned or leased by the school or school district due to a mandate by a unit of local government that the school or school district house migrants on any real property owned or leased by the school or school district.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that in counties with a population of less than 3,000,000, if a unit of local government, community college, or school district is required to provide notice in a newspaper by law, order of court, or contract, those entities may publish the notice on its official government website instead of in a newspaper. Provides that the entity or the host of the notice website must enter into a service-level agreement with an Internet service provider that guarantees the site is accessible to the public over the Internet at least 98% of the time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Provides that the official Internet website of the entity must prominently display a link to the notice web page. Provides that if an individual is unable to access an electronic publication of a legal notice, the entity must provide a copy of the notice to the individual free of charge. Requires that notices must remain available on the website at least until the last posting date required by law has expired or until the event described in a notice has taken place, whichever is later. Repeals the current provisions that a newspaper that publishes a notice required by law must contract to place the notice at no additional cost on the statewide website established and maintained as a joint venture of the majority of State newspapers as a repository of these notices. Amends the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a public high school from having a start time earlier than 8:45 a.m.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Divides vehicles into 3 (instead of 2) divisions. Provides that a third division motor vehicle is a vehicle which is designed for the carrying of more than 10 persons and not more than 15 persons and which is designed or used only as a multifunction school-activity bus. Provides that the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, shall develop a separate classroom course and refresher course for operation of vehicles of the third division being operated as multifunction school-activity buses.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall establish appropriate rules and disciplinary procedures governing the use or possession of cellular radio telecommunication devices by a student, including rules that restrict the use of cellular radio telecommunication devices during instructional time (instead of providing that the school board may establish appropriate rules and disciplinary procedures governing the use or possession of cellular radio telecommunication devices by a student). Provides that a school board may create exceptions to these rules, including exceptions for school-based emergencies, individual student and family emergencies, and individualized education program and federal Section 504 plan accommodations and to allow for teacher discretion.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to prohibit a student from using a cellular telephone in a school or on school property. Provides that the restriction shall not apply during lunch, recess, passing periods, or emergency situations. Repeals provisions allowing a school board to establish rules and disciplinary procedures governing the use or possession of cellular radio telecommunication devices by a student.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school report card must include data related to: (1) the total student capacity for each school in the school district; (2) the number of student transfers enrolled in each receiving school in the receiving school district; (3) the number of requests for transfer received; and (4) the number of requests for transfer denied and the reasons supporting the denial of any request for transfer. Provides that on or before the first day of each semester, it shall be the duty of the superintendent of the receiving school district to file with the State Board of Education showing the total number of students granted transfers into or within the receiving school district, and their respective school sites and grade levels. Requires the State Board to submit an annual report available to the public, on or before July 1st, on their website that includes for each school district: (1) the number of students in the school year seeking admission to transfer to or within a school district; (2) the number of rejected transfer requests in the school year; (3) the reason or reasons why each rejected transfer request was rejected in the school year; and (4) the total number of students that into or within each district. Provides that each year the State Board shall randomly select 20 of the school districts in the State to conduct an audit of each district's approved and denied transfers based on the provisions of the policies adopted by the respective school district. Amends the State Mandates Act. Provides that no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by the amendatory Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that notification of the alleged misconduct and available resources shall also be provided to the employee, agent of the school, or contractor of the school who is alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct. Requires the governing body of each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school to implement an investigation procedure under which an employee, agent of the school, or contractor of the school is alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct. Provides that any adverse determination issued to an employee, agent of the school, or contractor of the school for events that occurred prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be considered null and void only if any and all investigations conducted by a regulatory third party entity resulted in a finding that the allegation was false, unfounded, indeterminable, or unsubstantiated or a previous finding was otherwise overturned or expunged on appeal. Requires the adverse determination and related documents to be removed from the applicable personnel records within 14 business days after written notice. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Election Code. Provides that all local election authorities shall post requirements and qualifications for running for local offices and petition filing deadlines on the website of the local election authority.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Notice By Publication Act. Provides that whenever a municipality is required to provide notice by publication in a newspaper by law, order of court, or contract, the municipality may publish the notice on an official municipal website instead of in a newspaper if the notice published on the official municipal website is also published electronically on a searchable online database website and that website provides independent certification of the publication. Provides conditions concerning the availability and format of the searchable online database website. Repeals a Section concerning the placement of published notices on a statewide website and makes corresponding changes throughout the Act and in the Newspaper Legal Notice Act. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Creates the Out-of-School Time (OST) Advisory Council for the purpose of providing information and advice to the Governor and State agencies regarding State and federal policy and funding issues affecting out of school time programs. Sets forth membership, co-chairperson,s and meetings. Provides that the OST Advisory Council shall: (1) provide information on the status of funding provided for OST programs in each fiscal year; (2) provide recommendations on legislative and administrative action needed to ensure that funding for before and after school programs is allocated promptly to qualified providers of OST programs; (3) provide information on the quality of services and accountability measures that are appropriate for school-age children and youth; (4) provide information regarding challenges faced by OST programs that impede the provision of the best possible services; (5) provide recommendations on the equitable reach of OST programs to ensure that the State has policies in place that promote access to the children and youth most in need of services; (6) make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on reporting requirements, priority points, statewide evaluation, and licensure for OST programs; and (7) create and deliver to the Governor and General Assembly an annual report on statewide successes in OST and areas of growth for the future. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no person shall broadcast any electioneering communication on a video or audio service that offers content that is primarily viewed or listened to by children under the age of 13. Provides that a violation of the provision is a business offense, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/18/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. In provisions requiring access to a high school campus and student directory information to the official recruiting representatives of the armed forces of Illinois and the United States, deletes language that provides that a school board is not required to give greater notice regarding the right of access to recruiting representatives than is given to other persons and groups. Provides instead that a school board shall invite official recruiting representatives of the armed forces of Illinois and the United States to hold a recruitment event on the high school campus at least once per school year.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/18/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State shall allow students to participate in interscholastic athletic practices and events as a member of the team of a school in the school district if the student meets specified conditions. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/18/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires the Secretary of State to compile each form and proof of insurance submitted by each owner of any school bus, first division vehicle, owned by or used for hire by and in connection with the operation of private or public schools, day camps, summer camps, or nursery schools in a database and shall update the database on an annual basis. Requires the Department of Transportation to collect and maintain each certificate of safety from every school bus, first division vehicle. Requires the Department to develop and maintain a database of every school bus, first division vehicle that has contracted with any elementary or secondary school in the State for any transportation services.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the School Code. Requires each school board to adopt a policy that outlines how schools should track, meet, and adhere to the medical dietary requirements of students and the legal accommodations for the religious dietary needs of students.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that if a school district receives an order of protection protecting the identity and location of a school in which the petitioner's child or children attend, the school district must notify and deliver a copy of the order of protection to the school resource officer.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the School Code. Provides that, on or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: (1) prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time, except as otherwise provided; and (2) includes guidance for secure and accessible storage of wireless devices during instructional time. Provides that the policy may not prohibit a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time: (1) when a teacher or instructor has authorized the student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes; (2) in an emergency or in response to an imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual; (3) when a licensed physician determines that the possession or use of a wireless communication device is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; or (4) to fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or a Section 504 plan developed under Section 504; or (5) when the wireless communication device is necessary for students who are English learners to access learning materials. Prohibits a district from enforcing the policy through fees, fines, the deployment of a School Resource Officer, or local law enforcement officer. Requires each school board to review the effectiveness of its wireless communication device policy at least every 3 years.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the School Code. Provides that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school district shall provide informational materials about the Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program (rather than the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program) annually to the parent or guardian of a student who has a section 504 Plan under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, using the same distribution methods employed for other communications related to the student's section 504 Plan. Removes language providing that a school may transmit the informational material to a parent or guardian in the same manner as other documents and information related to an Individualized Education Program meeting are provided to the parent or guardian. Amends the Department of Early Childhood Act and the Early Intervention Services System Act. In provisions requiring individualized family service plans for children receiving early intervention services, provides that during the initial development of an individual family service plan and at each review meeting of the service plan, the regional intake offices shall provide the parent or guardian with informational materials about the Illinois (ABLE) account program. Requires the informational materials to include an overview of the Illinois ABLE account program, eligibility criteria, and other necessary enrollment information. Requires the Office of the State Treasurer to prepare and deliver the informational materials about the Illinois ABLE account for distribution to regional intake offices which shall subsequently disseminate the informational materials to parents and guardians in the same manner as they transmit other documents to families. Makes technical changes to the State Treasurer Act to change the name of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program to the Illinois Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the Election Code, the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act to designate the first day following the beginning of Ramadan as a State holiday. Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Provides that prior to offering dual credit coursework, a school district shall attempt to enter into a partnership agreement with the community college district in the community college district in which the school district is located, but if pursuing an alternative provider other than the community college district, the school district shall enter into a partnership agreement with the alternative postsecondary institution that complies with the Act. Requires a partnership agreement to provide for a Dual Credit Qualifications Committee that shall develop a Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework. Provides that the Framework shall define the appropriate graduate coursework for fully qualified and minimally qualified instructors and the equivalent experience required to be a fully qualified career and technical education instructor. Requires a Model Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework to be developed through a Committee involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education by June 30, 2026. Provides that the academic credentials required to be a fully qualified instructor shall include either (i) a master's degree within the discipline to be taught or (ii) any master's degree and not more than 18 graduate hours appropriate to the academic field of study or in the discipline to be taught. Provides that a community college district with an established partnership agreement with a school district has 30 calendar days from the initial course request to notify the school district of its disapproval of the course request, instructor, course documentation, or the community college district's withdrawal of course or instructor approval, and thereafter, the school district shall appeal the denial or withdrawal of the instructor approval to the Illinois Community College Board within 14 calendar days after the disapproval notice. Allows the Illinois Community College Board to conduct a study to examine dual credit students and their short-term and long-term outcomes. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Public University Direct Admission Program Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer a direct admission program. Requires each public university in the direct admission program to identify and provide its grade point average standards for general admission for first time admission and for transfer students to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission by March 1 of each year. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 and each July 1 thereafter, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall use data collected from school districts to determine which students meet the standards for general admission and provide the data to the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the State Board of Education, shall develop, in consultation with the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a preselection outreach campaign to encourage qualifying State high school juniors and seniors to apply to the University of Illinois at Chicago or the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Requires the Board of Higher Education to submit a report on the direct admission program and the preselection outreach campaign to the Governor and General Assembly by August 1, 2029 and each August 1 thereafter. Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to provide access to high school student directory information and each student's email address and grade point average to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and each public institution of higher education for the purpose of informing students of educational and career opportunities.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the School Code. Requires each school district to include in its handbook for grades kindergarten through 12 railroad safety messaging. Allows a school to opt-out of the messaging requirement if the school district votes that the inclusion of such messaging is unnecessary.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Creates the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act. Establishes the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Provides that the Chicago Transit Authority, the Commuter Rail Division and the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, and the Regional Transportation Authority are consolidated into the Metropolitan Mobility Authority and the Service Boards are abolished. Creates the Suburban Bus Operating Division, Commuter Rail Operating Division, and the Chicago Transit Operating Division. Reinserts, reorganizes, and changes some provisions from the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act into the new Act. Includes provisions concerning the operation of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. Repeals the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Amends various Acts, Laws, and Codes to make conforming changes. Creates the Equitable Transit-Supportive Development Act. Establishes the Office of Equitable Transit-Oriented Development and the Transit-Supportive Development Fund. Provides that the Office and the Fund are to aid transit-supportive development near high-quality transit by providing specified funding to municipalities that have adopted the standards in the transit support overlay district for that area or that have adopted zoning and other changes that the Office determines have benefits greater than or equal to such a District, including transit support overlay districts. Includes provisions relating to Office standards, procedures, and reports. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code. Requires the Department to establish, staff, and support an Office of Public Transportation Support for the purpose of optimizing the operation of public transportation vehicles and the delivery of public transportation services on highways under the Department's jurisdiction in the Metropolitan Mobility Authority's metropolitan region. Describes the duties and operations of the Office. Amends the Toll Highway Act. Provides that the Chair of the Metropolitan Mobility Authority is a nonvoting member of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Provides that some provisions are effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Creates the Curriculum Transparency Act. Requires each school that is operated by a school district or as a public charter school to disclose, not more than 10 days after the first use, on a publicly accessible portion of the school's website or the school district's website: (1) the procedures or processes in effect for the school principal or other staff to document, review, or approve lesson plans or the learning materials and activities used for student instruction at the school; (2) a listing of the teacher and staff training materials and activities used at the school in the current school year; and (3) a listing of the learning materials and activities used for student instruction at the school in the current school year. Provides that neither the State Board of Education nor the school district's school board or public charter school's governing body nor any staff acting in the course of their official duties shall purchase or contract for copyrighted learning materials to be used for student instruction at a school, unless provision is made to allow the parents and guardians of enrolled students to review the materials within 10 school days after the submission of a written request to the school. Sets forth ways a party may enforce the Act. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code to make a related change.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/18/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning bullying and cyber-bullying, provides that bullying includes posting or distributing sexually explicit images. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the term "cyber-bullying" includes the posting or distribution of a digital replica by electronic means. Defines "artificial intelligence", "digital replica", and "generative artificial intelligence". Effective July 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

Amends the Election Code. Provides that no image, symbol, or slogan shall appear in the heading of a petition for nomination other than the required information. Provides that any emblem or label indicating that the petition for nomination was printed by a union printer shall not be considered an image, symbol, or slogan.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/18/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Provides that the length of a contract between a deactivating school district that is seeking to send its students to more than one district and the receiving district shall be for 4 (rather than 2) school years, but the districts may renew the contract for a length of time that is mutually agreed upon by the districts (rather than for additional one-year or 2-year periods).

  CURRENT STATUS

2/18/2025 - Referred to House Rules

Amends the School Code. In a provision regarding an optional alternative evaluative dismissal process for teacher evaluations, removes the definition of and references to "student growth components". Makes the following changes in the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article: Removes the definitions of and references to "implementation date", "Race to the Top Grant", and "School Improvement Grant". Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, each school district may incorporate the use of data and indicators on student growth as a factor in rating teaching performance into its evaluation plan for all teachers in contractual continued service and teachers not in contractual continued service (now, a school district is required to incorporate student growth data and indicators as a significant factor). Makes other changes concerning student growth. Changes the components of an evaluation plan for a teacher's performance. Makes changes concerning a principal's or assistant principal's evaluation. With respect to the types of rules the State Board of Education may adopt, removes the inclusion of rules that (i) define the term "significant" factor" for purposes of including consideration of student growth in performance ratings and (ii) establish a model evaluation plan for use by school districts in which student growth shall comprise 50% of the performance rating. Allows a school district (rather than only a school district with 500,000 or more inhabitants) to use an annual State assessment as a measure of student growth for purposes of teacher or principal evaluations. Removes and changes outdated provisions. Makes other and conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - In the provisions regarding an optional alternative evaluative dismissal process for teacher evaluations, requires the school district, with respect to the hearing, to demonstrate that the "Unsatisfactory" performance evaluation rating that preceded remediation applied the teacher practice components and student growth components, if any (rather than only the teacher practice components). Provides that the evaluation of a principal or an assistant principal, when performed by an individual appointed by the school board, must be performed by an individual who holds a registered and active Professional Educator License with a principal endorsement or general administrative endorsement (rather than only a principal endorsement).

  CURRENT STATUS

3/20/2025 - Senate Bills on Third Reading

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a charter from being granted to an organization that operates a private, parochial, or non-public school or child care facility. Provides that a charter school shall spend no less than 90% of its budget on direct-service costs for students. Removes provisions regarding the closure of charter schools, the use of unspent public funds, and the procedures for disposition of property and assets. Requires the governing body of a charter school that is the subject of a school action to work collaboratively with local school educators and families of students attending the charter school to ensure successful integration of affected students into new learning environments. Requires, for a charter school closure, the governing body of the charter school to ensure that all students of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a seat at a receiving school and that all teachers of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a job at a receiving school. Sets forth requirements for school transition plans. Requires the governing body of the charter school to designate at least 3 opportunities for public comment at a hearing or meeting on the proposed school action.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/25/2025 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district may offer a firearm safety training course to students in grades 9 through 12, which may include instruction on hunting safety. Provides that if a school district offers the course, a student may not be required to take the course. Provides that if a school board intends to offer a firearm safety training course, it must develop a policy to implement the course and must publish that policy on the district's website.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that school districts shall regulate and restrict access to public restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, and other similar places on the basis of biological sex and shall also adopt a policy that provides for gender neutral or alternative facilities for students, staff, and members of the public, as the school district deems appropriate. Provides that school districts are not required to: (1) limit access by a minor accompanied by an adult guardian of the opposite sex into a specified facility appropriate for the adult guardian; (2) prohibit a person with disabilities from using a specified facility appropriate to the biological sex of either the person with disabilities or of an adult caretaker providing assistance; or (3) prohibit access to these facilities by custodial staff, school staff, or other persons in an emergency situation.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires school boards to publicly report, on their school district's website, a list of the curriculum to be used for student instruction during the school year. Requires that the report also include any procedures that are in effect at each school for the documentation, review, or approval of the curriculum used for student instruction. Allows a school district to update the report on an ongoing basis, but requires the report to be updated at least one month prior to the start of each school semester. Requires the State Board of Education to impose a civil penalty of $1,000 per day for each day a school board fails to post the required update after one week of notice. Requires each school district to notify the parents or guardians of students when the report is posted and when any subsequent updates are made to the report. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. In provisions concerning the daily pupil attendance calculation, removes provisions specifying that days of attendance by pupils through verified participation in an e-learning program adopted by a school board and verified by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district shall be considered as full days of attendance. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/24/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Removes language allowing school districts that collect biometric information from students to adopt specified policies. Instead, prohibits a school district from purchasing or otherwise acquiring biometric systems to use on students. Provides that a school district may not do any of the following with respect to students: (1) obtain, retain, possess, access, request, or use biometric systems or biometric information derived from biometric systems; or (2) enter into an agreement with a third party for the purpose of obtaining, retaining, possessing, accessing, or using, by or on behalf of the school district, biometric systems. Provides that, within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, if a school district is in possession of student biometric information, then the school district shall destroy the biometric information and provide certified documentation of destruction to the State Board of Education. Provides that, within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, any school district that has contracted with a third party to obtain, collect, or store student biometric information shall require the third party to destroy all biometric information in its possession and confirm in writing the completion of this destruction to the school district. During the 30-day period in which a school district may still have student biometric information in its possession, prohibits the school district from selling, leasing, or otherwise disclosing the biometric information to another person or entity unless: (1) the individual who has legal custody of the student or the student, if he or she has reached the age of 18, consents to the disclosure; or (2) the disclosure is required by court order. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Senate AI and Social Media

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall require a school that operates a library to place the library's catalog of library materials in a searchable database accessible over the Internet to a parent or guardian of a student at the school. Provides that a school board shall require a school that operates a library to allow a parent or guardian of a student at the school to prohibit the student from accessing any library materials that the parent or guardian designates. Provides that the school shall require the parent or guardian to designate in writing which library materials the parent or guardian is prohibiting the student from accessing, shall keep the written designation on file in the library, and shall prevent the student from accessing that material.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/29/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Conversion and Formation of School Districts Article of the School Code. Within 3 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, requires elementary school districts to form new school districts but only with other elementary school districts and high school districts to form new school districts but only with other high school districts, notwithstanding any referendum requirements or any other laws to the contrary. Provides that the State Board of Education shall facilitate the creation of the new school districts by providing recommendations on which districts must consolidate. Sets forth the factors that the State Board must take into consideration. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Authorizes the Chicago Board of Education, by resolution, to provide for the compensation of its members.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Boards Article of the School Code. Requires each member of a board of education, on the date of his or her election to the board, to be the age of 22 (rather than 18) years or over.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/31/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Requires a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus to provide written or verbal instruction concerning the availability and correct use of seat safety belts to student passengers and their parents or legal guardians at least 2 times per calendar or school year. Requires a school bus driver or aide to provide a verbal or posted reminder to all passengers to fasten their seat safety belts properly before the bus begins to move prior to the start of each trip. Contains provisions concerning liability. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2026, if a school bus has one or more designated passenger seating positions equipped with a seat safety belt system, the seats shall be prioritized for use and the seat safety belt shall be worn correctly by the passengers of the bus. Provides that a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall instruct passengers on the correct use of seat safety belt systems. Provides that when operating other vehicles not defined as a school bus, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity transporting children must adhere to the occupant restraint requirements of the Child Passenger Protection Act. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a public or nonpublic school, school district, transportation provider or contractor, or other entity operating a school bus shall not be charged for a violation requiring a passenger to use a seat safety belt system if a passenger on the school bus fails to use or incorrectly uses the seat belt system. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/4/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that the allowable direct cost of transporting pupils for regular, vocational, and special education pupil transportation shall be limited to, among other costs, expenditures to electrification-as-a-service contractors that provide electric school buses or a combination of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, equipment, or daily charge management services, plus a depreciation allowance of 8.33% for 12 years for electric school buses and vehicles approved for transporting pupils to and from school.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 11, 2025

Amends the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article of the School Code. Provides that a teacher evaluation plan shall prohibit an evaluator from using artificial intelligence tools to perform teacher evaluation tasks.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/26/2025 - Senate AI and Social Media

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Transportation Choices Act. Requires, by January 1, 2027, the Environmental Protection Agency, after consultation with the Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), to establish a schedule of greenhouse gas targets for greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in the State. Requires the Department and MPOs to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions analysis and determine if their applicable planning document will result in meeting their greenhouse gas targets. Requires the Department and MPOs to perform a greenhouse gas emissions analysis prior to including a roadway capacity expansion project in an applicable planning document. Requires, by January 1, 2029 and every 3 years thereafter, the Department to prepare a comprehensive report on statewide transportation greenhouse gas reduction accomplishments and challenges and to make recommendations for any legislative action that would assist the Department and MPOs in meeting their greenhouse gas targets. Requires the Department and MPOs to calculate a climate equity accessibility score prior to including any project that has an anticipated cost of $30,000,000 or more in an applicable planning document or as a greenhouse gas mitigation measure. Requires the Department and MPOs to provide early and continuous opportunities for public participation in the transportation planning process. Requires, beginning June 30, 2026, the Department and MPOs to establish a social cost of carbon and use the social cost of carbon in their planning documents and planning activities. Establishes the Greenhouse Gas in Transportation Working Group. Provides that the specified requirements of the provisions shall commence with projects included in applicable planning documents filed on or after January 1, 2028. Makes other changes. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to calculate a social cost of carbon and makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 4, 2025

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires a school district, if funds are available, to provide a minimum of 3 hours of instruction for students in any of grades 7 through 12 on (i) legal aspects explaining certain laws and penalties, (ii) responding to a police encounter, and (iii) the aftermath. Allows the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to school boards resource materials that may be used as guidelines for the development of the instruction. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that, no later than August 1, 2025, all school boards shall adopt a policy that: (1) prohibits a student from using personal wireless communication devices during instructional time; and (2) prevents student access to social media platforms through the use of Internet access provided by a school district. Allows a school board to prohibit student use of personal wireless communication devices during instructional time through any method it deems appropriate. Requires a school board to create exceptions to the policy for students to use wireless communication devices for certain reasons, and allows a school board to create other exceptions. Requires a school board to impose appropriate discipline or other sanctions against any student who violates these provisions. Requires a school district to post the policy publicly on its website. Allows the State Board of Education to adopt any rules that are necessary for the administration of the provisions. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Illinois TRUST Act. Adds schools and school employees to provisions regarding law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officials. Defines "school".

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Dual Credit Quality Act. Provides that prior to offering dual credit coursework, a school district shall attempt to enter into a partnership agreement with the community college district in the community college district in which the school district is located, but if pursuing an alternative provider other than the community college district, the school district shall enter into a partnership agreement with the alternative postsecondary institution that complies with the Act. Requires a partnership agreement to provide for a Dual Credit Qualifications Committee that shall develop a Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework. Provides that the Framework shall define the appropriate graduate coursework for fully qualified and minimally qualified instructors and the equivalent experience required to be a fully qualified career and technical education instructor. Requires a Model Dual Credit Instructor Qualification Framework to be developed through a Committee involving collaboration between the Illinois Community College Board and the State Board of Education by June 30, 2026. Provides that the academic credentials required to be a fully qualified instructor shall include either (i) a master's degree within the discipline to be taught or (ii) any master's degree and not more than 18 graduate hours appropriate to the academic field of study or in the discipline to be taught. Provides that a community college district with an established partnership agreement with a school district has 30 calendar days from the initial course request to notify the school district of its disapproval of the course request, instructor, course documentation, or the community college district's withdrawal of course or instructor approval, and thereafter, the school district shall appeal the denial or withdrawal of the instructor approval to the Illinois Community College Board within 14 calendar days after the disapproval notice. Allows the Illinois Community College Board to conduct a study to examine dual credit students and their short-term and long-term outcomes. Makes other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the State Board of Education shall award grant money in the form of a voucher of $125,000 to a school district that submits a grant application to the State Board to be applied on the total purchase price of an electric school bus to effectively lower the purchase price of the electric school bus to the school district. Sets forth eligibility requirements for a school district to receive a grant. Provides that the State Board of Education shall annually disseminate a request for applications for grants towards the purchase of a electric school bus grant and applications shall be accepted on an annual basis. Provides that if the appropriation for grants under this Section for a given fiscal year is less than the amount required to fund all applications for grants, the State Board of Education shall give priority to school districts designated as Tier 1 or Tier 2 that do not have any electric school buses. Sets forth the application requirements. Allows the State Board of Education to adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of the provisions. Effective immediately.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 11, 2025

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Prohibits municipal ordinances that regulate truants from including a fine or fee for violations or providing for enforcement by citation. Amends the School Code. Requires a memorandum of understanding between a local law enforcement agency and a school district for any school district that uses a school resource officer; sets forth requirements for the memorandum. Provides that a student is prohibited from being issued a monetary fine or fee by any person (rather than providing that a student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee) as a disciplinary consequence. Prohibits school personnel of a school district from referring a student to any other local public entity or a local law enforcement agency for that entity or agency to issue the student a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence. Prohibits a school district from referring a truant, chronic truant, or truant minor to any other local public entity for that local public entity to issue the child's parent or guardian a fine or a fee as punishment for the child's truancy. Makes conforming and other changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the School Code. Creates the Out-of-School Time (OST) Advisory Council for the purpose of providing information and advice to the Governor and State agencies regarding State and federal policy and funding issues affecting out of school time programs. Sets forth membership, co-chairperson,s and meetings. Provides that the OST Advisory Council shall: (1) provide information on the status of funding provided for OST programs in each fiscal year; (2) provide recommendations on legislative and administrative action needed to ensure that funding for before and after school programs is allocated promptly to qualified providers of OST programs; (3) provide information on the quality of services and accountability measures that are appropriate for school-age children and youth; (4) provide information regarding challenges faced by OST programs that impede the provision of the best possible services; (5) provide recommendations on the equitable reach of OST programs to ensure that the State has policies in place that promote access to the children and youth most in need of services; (6) make recommendations to the Governor and State agencies on reporting requirements, priority points, statewide evaluation, and licensure for OST programs; and (7) create and deliver to the Governor and General Assembly an annual report on statewide successes in OST and areas of growth for the future.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school social studies course pertaining to American history shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the previous 30 years and the causes that led up to those events. Provides for what the unit of instruction shall and may include. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials and professional development opportunities that may be used as guidelines for development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit and make recommendations for improvement, including professional development. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to create a policy that prohibits all school personnel from using a showering or bathing facility accessible to a student during school hours. Sets forth provisions concerning policy requirements and school personnel duties and prohibitions. Provides that school personnel that violate the policy may be subject to corrective action. Requires the school board to review the policy annually and update the policy as needed to comply with any changes to the law, best practices, or feedback from school personnel.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that out-of-school suspensions and expulsions should only be used when the student's presence poses a threat to the operation of the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. Provides that to ensure that students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is recommended that school officials consider implementing proactive evidence-based interventions that improve behavioral outcomes for all students. Provides that out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be used only if the student's conduct poses a threat to the operation of the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes (rather than the student's continuing presence in school would pose a threat to school safety or) a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. Provides that the school board shall be solely responsible for determining, on a case-by-case basis, whether the student's conduct poses a threat to the operation of the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. Provides that out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been attempted (rather than exhausted) and the student's conduct poses a threat to the school, poses a threat to the health or safety of students or school personnel, or causes a disruption to other students' learning opportunities (rather than the student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school). Makes conforming changes.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Creates the Gender in Athletics Act. Provides that in any intercollegiate athletic activity that is subject to rules, standards, or classifications that provide for student eligibility restrictions in order to ensure, enhance, or promote fair competition, each public institution of higher education shall make all determinations based on sex and not on gender. Grants rulemaking authority to the Board of High Education to implement and enforce the Act. Amends the School Code. Provides that no school district or nonpublic school whose students or teams compete against a school district or nonpublic school may operate, sponsor, or facilitate interscholastic or intramural athletics that permit a person whose gender is male to participate in any interscholastic or intramural athletics that are designated for females. Allows a student who is aggrieved by an alleged violation or anticipated violation to have the right to file a grievance complaint with the school district or nonpublic school for an immediate determination of whether a violation or anticipated violation exists. Provides that if a violation or anticipated violation is determined to exist, the school district or nonpublic school shall issue a decision immediately and may direct that such violation be terminated or adjusted to prevent a further violation, but if the grievance is rejected, the complaining party has the right to an immediate appeal to the State Board of Education for relief.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/6/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Creates the Let America Read Act. Provides that the State Board of Education with oversight over the instructional materials used in public schools shall create a grievance procedure for challenges to instructional materials. Provides that a school district shall designate a Review Committee to review all challenges to instructional materials. Provides that for each formal challenge, the Review Committee shall review the instructional material with the use of clear, objective review criteria created by the State Board. Requires the school district to create a Formal Grievance Procedure for Instructional Materials Form. Provides that upon receipt of a formal complaint, the Review Committee shall hold a minimum of 2 public meetings during a school year to review complaints, welcome input from the public, and generate recommendations to the final decision maker. Provides that the challenged instructional material shall remain accessible in the classroom pending a final determination. Provides that if the challenged instructional material faces a successful objection, then the removal of the instructional material takes effect the school year after the year in which the complaint was filed. Provides that if an instructional material is formally challenged and a final determination is reached, the instructional material shall not be challenged and reviewed by the Review Committee for 3 school years. Grants rulemaking authority to the State Board. Makes a conforming change in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/7/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, school districts and public institutions of higher education are eligible to receive unemployment insurance aid. Sets forth provisions concerning the calculation of the amount of unemployment insurance aid to be given to each school district and public institutions of higher education. Provides that, if the total unemployment insurance aid for a fiscal year is greater than the annual appropriation for that year, the State Board of Education or the Board of Higher Education shall proportionately reduce the aid payment to each school district and public institution of higher education. Sets forth reporting requirements. Makes conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/7/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Latina and Latino history, including the history of Latinas and Latinos in Illinois and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Latinas and Latinos toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century onward. Provides that these events shall include the contributions made by individual Latinas and Latinos in government and the arts, humanities, and sciences, as well as the contributions of Latina and Latino communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States. Provides that the studying of this material shall constitute an affirmation by students of their commitment to respect the dignity of all races and peoples and to forever eschew every form of discrimination in their lives and careers. Establishes requirements for the State Superintendent of Education, regional superintendents, and each school board concerning instructional materials and guidelines. Permits a school to meet requirements through an online program or course.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/21/2025 - Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the State Board of Education, shall develop a separate classroom course and refresher course for operation of vehicles of the first division being operated as school buses. Requires all applicants to operate a first division vehicle to: (1) meet specified requirements; and (2) complete the classroom course or refresher course or complete a training course administered by the service provider in which the applicant will be employed by that covers safe driving practices with a first division vehicle, special considerations for transporting students with disabilities, emergency preparedness, and safe pick-up and drop-off procedures. Provides that an applicant to operate a first division vehicle is exempt from the requirement of demonstrating physical fitness to operate a school bus by submitting the results of a medical examination if the applicant will be providing transportation services with a provider that uses a telematics system that sends, receives, and stores telemetry data. Provides that a vehicle subject to a safety test prior to an application for a license shall be subject to tests, in the case of first division vehicles, at least every 12 months, or 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2025.

  CURRENT STATUS

2/7/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Amends the School Code. Provides that, on or before the 2026-2027 school year, each school board shall adopt and implement a wireless communication device policy that: (1) prohibits a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time, except as otherwise provided; and (2) includes guidance for secure and accessible storage of wireless devices during instructional time. Provides that the policy may not prohibit a student from using a wireless communication device during instructional time: (1) when a teacher or instructor has authorized the student to use a wireless communication device for educational purposes; (2) in an emergency or in response to an imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual; (3) when a licensed physician determines that the possession or use of a wireless communication device is necessary for the health or well-being of the student; or (4) to fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or a Section 504 plan developed under Section 504; or (5) when the wireless communication device is necessary for students who are English learners to access learning materials. Prohibits a district from enforcing the policy through fees, fines, the deployment of a School Resource Officer, or local law enforcement officer. Requires each school board to review the effectiveness of its wireless communication device policy at least every 3 years.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/20/2025 - Senate Bills on Second Reading

Calls on school districts and school boards to pass resolutions that (1) Designate Illinois schools to be a safe haven for all students, school staff, and families threatened by immigration enforcement, discrimination, and stop and frisk policies to the fullest extent permitted by law, (2) Prevent the release of information or assist ICE and/or local law enforcement, (3) Require agencies it holds intergovernmental agreements with to uphold the determinations outlined in this resolution, (4) Abstain from using Illinois school resources for detecting or assisting in the apprehension of persons who may be targeted in immigration enforcement, (5) Deny the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's access to school databases, facilities, equipment, personnel, and other resources for purposes of implementing registries, (6) Reject any effort to create religious litmus tests or screenings for individuals or families to navigate the immigration process and, most importantly, reject any federal or state effort to create a registry of individuals based on religion or ethnicity, and (7) Oppose any existing or future federal mandates to implement stop and frisk policies in and around schools.

  CURRENT STATUS

1/28/2025 - Referred to Senate Assignments

Recognizes the work of organizations such as the Illinois Judges Association in educating our youth, parents, and schools about remaining safe and vigilant in the rapidly changing online environment of today and seeks to expand this essential online safety education to all students, parents, and schools in our State. Recognizes the value of collaboration between elementary and secondary schools in Illinois and the Illinois Judges Association, community organizations, and similar entities to provide comprehensive online safety education to all students, parents, and educators. Supports school districts and organizations in efforts to provide online safety to students, parents, and educators of elementary and secondary schools in Illinois.

  CURRENT STATUS

3/20/2025 - Resolutions Secretary's Desk