Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Illinois · House Oct 15, 2025

HB 4111: HIGHER ED-STUDENT WITHDRAWAL

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Requires each public institution of higher education in the State to adopt a policy that authorizes a student to withdraw from the public institution of higher education under extenuating circumstances, which shall include a provision to refund a student for tuition and fees and room and board costs paid by the student or the student's family, to be prorated, for the semester during which the student withdraws. Effective January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires prorated refunds for student withdrawals under extenuating circumstances, protecting student financial interests and enhancing access to higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Illinois · House Jan 9, 2025

HB 1161: SCH/HIGHER ED-SEX SEGREGATION

Creates the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no receipt of State funding may be contingent upon an educational institution forgoing the maintenance of sex-segregated spaces by the educational institution, including bathrooms and locker rooms. Provides that notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no receipt of State funding may be contingent upon an educational institution forgoing the maintenance of sex-segregated athletic or academic programs by the educational institution.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures schools maintain sex-segregated facilities (bathrooms, locker rooms) without losing state funding, supporting operational policies for student access and safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Jun 2, 2025

SB 2349: HIGHER ED-MIN EMPLOYEE SALARY

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, the governing board of each public institution of higher education shall pay employees an hourly rate of not less than: (1) $22 for the 2025-2026 academic year; (2) $23 for the 2026-2027 academic year; and (3) $24 for the 2027-2028 academic year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each academic year thereafter shall equal the minimum hourly rate for the previous academic year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous academic year. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates minimum hourly wages for higher education employees, directly supporting staff compensation and aligning with education funding support indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates minimum hourly wage increases for public higher education employees ($22-$24 annually), directly advancing wage standards under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Minimum Wage

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in committee · Illinois · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 84: $BD HIGHER ED-TECH

HB 84 appropriates $2 from the state's General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education. This funding is designated for the Board's ordinary and contingent expenses for fiscal year 2026, becoming effective on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2 from General Revenue Fund to Higher Education Board for FY2026 expenses, directly funding public education through state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $2 to Board of Higher Education for FY2026 expenses, directly funding higher education operations per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Higher Education

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2628: $LEARN9-FACILITY RENOVATION

SB 2628 appropriates $5,000,000 to the LEARN 9 Campus in Waukegan for facility renovation, effective July 1, 2025. The bill directly funds physical upgrades to the campus infrastructure. It has no policy changes beyond authorizing this specific funding allocation. The bill was filed by Sen. Adriane Johnson on March 4, 2025, and referred to the Assignments committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $5M for campus facility renovation, directly allocating state funds for infrastructure under budget authority.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds physical infrastructure upgrades at a K-12 campus, directly supporting school facility maintenance and student environment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Higher Education

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in committee · Illinois · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 1373: HIGHER ED-ACADEMIC ADVISORS

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Requires each governing board to ensure that an academic advisor or counselor acts with a duty of care or fiduciary duty to provide academic guidance and advice that is strictly in the best interest of the student whom he or she advises or counsels.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires academic advisors to act in students' best interest with fiduciary duty, strengthening student support in higher education governance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Illinois · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 2607: CAMPUS FREE SPEECH PROTECTION

Creates the Campus Free Speech Protection Act. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to adopt policies governing free expression. Sets forth what those policies must ensure. Contains provisions concerning making those policies available to faculty and students. Sets forth both prohibited and permissible conduct. Provides for remedies for violations of the policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates free speech protections in higher education, supporting academic freedom as part of educational policy without restricting curriculum or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Jan 13, 2025

SB 61: HIGHER ED-PREFERENCE ADMISSION

Creates the Preferential Admission Ban Act. Prohibits, beginning September 1, 2025, an independent institution of higher education from providing a legacy preference or donor preference in admissions to an applicant as part of the regular or early action admissions process. Provides that, on or before June 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, an independent institution of higher education shall report to the General Assembly and the Office of the Attorney General on whether the independent institution of higher education complied with the provisions of the Act and, if the independent institution of higher education did not comply with the provisions, the independent institution of higher education shall include additional specified information in its report. Requires the Office of the Attorney General to post the names of the independent institutions of higher education that violate the Act on its Internet website by the next fiscal year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBans legacy/donor preferences in higher education admissions, promoting equitable access to college opportunities as part of educational access policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 2669: HIGHER ED-TEACH ASSIST-LIMIT

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to set, by rule, the maximum amount of classes a teaching assistant may teach without a professor, instructor, or teacher present.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts teaching assistant workload by limiting classes without faculty presence, directly imposing a limitation on higher education teaching roles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · House Oct 15, 2025

HB 4156: TREASURER-COLLEGE SAVINGS POOL

Amends the State Treasurer Act. In provisions concerning the College Savings Pool, provides that trade schools and elementary or secondary public, private, or religious schools are also considered eligible educational institutions, subject to certain limitations. Provides that expenses, up to $10,000 per taxable year, for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school are considered qualified expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows tax-advantaged tuition expenses up to $10k for K-12 schools, providing tax relief through expanded qualified expenses under state tax provisions.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax-advantaged savings for K-12 tuition, increasing educational access by including elementary/secondary schools in savings pool.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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