Education (Higher Education)

Amends the Public Higher Education Act, the Board of Higher Education Act, and the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that a resident of the State who is not lawfully present in the United States is not eligible, on the basis of residence within the State, for any postsecondary educational benefit unless a citizen or national of the United States is eligible for such a benefit without regard to whether the citizen or national is such a resident. Provides that any benefit conferred to a nonresident of the State who is lawfully present in the United States may not be lesser in amount, duration, or scope than the benefit conferred to a State resident who is unlawfully present in the United States.

Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Prohibits a public institution of higher education from entering into the federal Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.

Creates the Student Bill of Rights Act. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall jointly establish, no later than January 1, 2026, a student bill of rights to outline that students in public schools and public institutions of higher education have a right to educational equity and to be free from discrimination based on race, sex, gender, socioeconomic status, and mental or physical ability. Provides that the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education shall publish the student bill of rights on their Internet websites and make a handout available. Provides that each public institution of higher education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall have on their Internet websites a link to the student bill of rights published on the Board of Higher Education's Internet website. Effective immediately.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that an institution of higher learning that participates in the Monetary Award Program may not release the personally identifiable information of any of its students for voter registration activities unless the student gives consent in writing.

Creates the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that the intent of the Act is for the requirements of the Act to apply equally to the governing board of each public institution of higher education in this State unless the Act provides otherwise. Defines "governing board of each public institution of higher education" and "public institution of higher education". Prohibits a public university from punishing students for exercising their right to free speech. Effective immediately.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that if a public university has a law school, medical school, or nursing program, the governing board of the university shall establish an admissions process in which 25% of the students admitted to the law school, medical school, or nursing program shall be rural students; defines "rural student". Provides that the governing board shall require each of these rural students to agree to return to the county where the student's primary residence was located for a period of 3 years after graduation from the law school, medical school, or nursing program. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Removes a provision specifically excluding academic programs for incarcerated students from the definition of "institution of higher learning", "qualified institution", and "institution". In provisions concerning the AIM HIGH Grant Program, removes the grant eligibility requirement that an applicant not be incarcerated.