HB 4304 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

HIGHER ED STUDENT BILL OF RTS

Summary

Creates the Higher Education Student Bill of Rights Act. Provides that a student attending a postsecondary education institution in the State is entitled to the following rights: the right to an inclusive and safe learning environment; the right to equal access; the right to safety and respect; the right to accessibility; the right to free expression; the right to organize; the right to peaceful protest; the right to academic transparency; the right to fair evaluation; the right to educational records; the right to educational programs safeguarded from political interference; the right to career preparation; the right to educational quality; the right to due process; the right to representation; the right to institutional accountability; the right to financial transparency; the right to fair lending and borrowing practices; the right to timely refunds and withdrawals; and the right to transfer.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced Apr 15, 2026 Signed Aug 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 1 edit · Aug 7, 2026

MINOR

The bill has moved from its 'Engrossed' version to the final 'Enrolled' version, which is the text signed into law. The substantive content of the act regarding higher education remains identical; the only changes are the removal of draft headers and the addition of final page numbers and formatting.

TECHNICAL

Removed draft headers identifying the document as 'Engrossed' and replaced them with 'Enrolled' status, along with updating page number formatting.

Floor votes · Senate May 31, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026

How they voted

36–19

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 58

May 31, 2026

D Democratic39

36 Yea 3

92% Yea

R Republican19

19 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 7, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Approved

lower

May 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Both Houses

lower

May 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading - Passed; 037-019-000

upper

May 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Do Pass Executive; 008-004-000

upper

May 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 22, 2026

upper

May 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

Assigned to Executive

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Committee

Referred to Assignments

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Introduced

Arrive in Senate

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-037-000

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 009-000-000

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Committee

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Introduced

House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Katie Stuart

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 007-004-000

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Assigned to Higher Education Committee

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules Committee

lower

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors