HB 5328 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

SERVICEMEMBERS-SERVE ACT

Summary
Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act. Requires institutions of higher education (institution) to accommodate service member student's academic military leave and grant prompt readmission when the service member student has not exceeded a cumulative academic military leave period beyond 5 years, provides advance notice of academic military leave to the institution, and provides notice of intent to return to the institution. Requires the institution to readmit a service member student on academic military leave into the next class, classes, or academic year division following the receipt of the notice of intent to return in accordance with the terms of the accommodation. Contains provisions on exemptions to readmission and related reporting requirements on service member students; investigations by the Attorney General's appointed ISERRA Advocate on whether a readmission exemption exists; and other matters. Requires service member students to provide advance notice of pending military service and prohibits institutions from imposing conditions for academic military leave not otherwise imposed under the Act. Contains provisions on military accommodation; academic obligations of service member students; reimbursement for school expenses; academic withdrawal due to military service; rejection of accommodation and the institution's burden of proof; a 5-year military service limitation; records documentation; advance notice requirements on service member students; notice of intent to return; anti-discrimination protections; academic leave for the spouses of servicemembers; Attorney General enforcement authority; remedies; rulemaking authority; and other matters.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 21, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 3 edits · Apr 17, 2026
MINOR
The bill was updated from an introduced draft to an engrossed version, incorporating new definitions and clarifying the bill's title and purpose. The changes expand the scope by explicitly defining key terms like 'Academic military leave' and 'Accommodation' to include specific examples such as make-up work and remote participation. These additions aim to provide clearer guidance for institutions on how to accommodate service member students and ensure consistent application of the law.
Scope change
The scope was clarified by adding specific definitions for terms like 'Academic military leave', 'Accommodation', 'Appropriate military authority', 'Discrimination', 'Enrollment status', and 'Financial aid', which were either missing or less detailed in the previous version.
DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'Academic military leave' and 'Accommodation' to clarify what constitutes valid military leave and the types of institutional support required.

Introduced new definitions for 'Appropriate military authority', 'Discrimination', 'Enrollment status', and 'Financial aid' to establish clear boundaries for the bill's application and protections.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header and synopsis to reflect the 'Engrossed' status and refined the title to 'AN ACT concerning veterans'.

Floor votes · House Apr 17, 2026

How they voted

991
Passed · 16 other
Total votes 116
Apr 17, 2026
D Democratic76
66 Yea 10
86% Yea
R Republican40
33 Yea 1 Nay 6
82% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Apr 28, 2026
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Introduced
Arrive in Senate
upper
Apr 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 101-001-000
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 011-000-000
lower
Mar 12, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Higher Education Committee
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
2 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors