HB 2997 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

SCH CD-ARAB AMERICAN HISTORY

Summary
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 shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in the State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall 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. Provides that a school may meet the requirements through an online program or course. Effective immediately.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 10, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 10, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was amended to add Arab American history instruction to the existing Asian American history curriculum requirement. While the original version proposed a standalone section for Arab American history, the final version integrates it as a new subsection within the existing Asian American history law. This ensures both groups are covered under a single legislative framework starting in different school years.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from solely covering Arab American history to covering both Asian American and Arab American history under one section of the School Code.
REQUIREMENT

Changed the bill from creating a new standalone section for Arab American history to amending an existing section (27-20.8) that already covers Asian American history, adding Arab American history as subsection (a-5).

Added specific curriculum content requirements for Arab American history, including contributions from the 19th century onward and the history of Arab Americans in Illinois and the Midwest.

TIMELINE

The start date for the new Arab American history requirement was set to the 2026-2027 school year, while the existing Asian American history requirement remains effective from the 2022-2023 school year.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes were made to align the new text with the existing statute structure, including updating the section title to 'Asian American and Arab American history study'.

Floor votes · House Apr 10, 2025

How they voted

6735
Passed · 16 other
Total votes 118
Apr 10, 2025
D Democratic78
67 Yea 11
85% Yea
R Republican40
35 Nay 5
87% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
56
Key actions
7
Committee
11
Amendments
2
Jun 2, 2025
Committee
Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025
upper
May 22, 2025
Committee
Assigned to Education
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 067-035-000
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Note / Motion Filed - Note Act Does Not Apply Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Education Policy Committee; 009-004-000
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Education Policy Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate Education Policy Committee; 009-004-000
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
Assigned to Education Policy Committee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
2 primary · 22 co-sponsors

Sponsors