Education (Student Financial Aid)

in committee · Illinois · House Oct 28, 2025

HB 4183: HIGHER ED-SCHOLARSHIPS

Amends the Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Act. Makes changes concerning definitions; the Program Board; program policy; grant eligibility; institution and institutional representative responsibilities; applying for, determining, and administering awards; award conditions; penalties; the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act; and applicability. Repeals a Section concerning continuing participants. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Makes changes concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program. Repeals a Section concerning equal opportunity scholarships. Amends the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Act to remove a provision with respect to reserving a portion of funds for awards to certain minority applicants. Amends the Transitions in Education Act to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill amends scholarship/grant programs for higher education, expanding access and diversifying faculty through funding mechanisms under Illinois higher education acts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 294: UNIV OF IL-VETERAN SCHOLARSHIP

Amends the University of Illinois Act. Provides that a county is entitled to a scholarship in the University of Illinois for the benefit of the children of persons who served in the armed forces of the United States any time on or after August 2, 1990 and until Congress or the President orders that persons in service are no longer eligible for the Kosovo Campaign Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides scholarships for veterans' children, increasing access to higher education funding under University of Illinois Act.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides scholarships for children of veterans who served post-1990, directly funding a benefit tied to military service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Veteran Education

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signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 1475: HIGHER ED-BD MEMBER COMPENSATE

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act and the Public Community College Act. Provides that a student member who serves on the Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board shall receive a scholarship award of $500 for each semester in which the student member is enrolled and serving.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $500 scholarship to student board members, directly supporting higher education governance participation and financial aid for students in leadership roles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · Illinois · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 2988: $ILSAC/DHS-SOCIAL WORK

Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program and the Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarship. Appropriates $1,000,000 to the Department of Human Services for the Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Program grant. Effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school social work programs via loan repayment and scholarships, supporting student mental health and educator access in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 1932: NURSING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall award a nursing in correctional facilities scholarship to each qualified applicant. Provides that, prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an academic year, each recipient of a scholarship must sign an agreement pledging that, within the one-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall begin working as a nurse within the Department of Corrections for a period of not less than 3 years. Sets forth provisions concerning the scholarship amount, applicant eligibility, the selection of recipients, applications, the distribution of funds, the fulfillment of the agreement, funding, and rulemaking. Provides that the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Commission, shall provide an annual report to the General Assembly on effectiveness, including the number of recipients, their service periods, and any challenges faced. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds nursing scholarships specifically for correctional facilities, directly supporting corrections staffing - a core component of criminal justice by improving healthcare services within prisons.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides scholarship funding for nursing students in correctional facilities, expanding higher education access and supporting student financial assistance within the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds nursing scholarships to train medical professionals in correctional facilities, directly advancing healthcare workforce development and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Illinois · Senate Jun 2, 2025

SB 1510: NURSE EDUCATR-SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Creates the Nurse Educator Scholarship Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that all money in the Nurse Educator Scholarship Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the Department of Public Health to provide scholarships to nurse educators. Provides that each fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2025, the State Comptroller shall transfer $1,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Nurse Educator Scholarship Fund to implement the nurse educator scholarship provisions. Makes a conforming change in the State Finance Act. Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that, for fiscal year 2026 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $6,000,000 (instead of $4,000,000) of the moneys deposited in the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund each year shall be set aside and appropriated to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for nursing scholarships awarded pursuant to the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state fund requiring $1.5M annual transfer from General Revenue to fund nurse educator scholarships, directly increasing state budget allocation for public education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $1.5M annual scholarship fund for nurse educators, directly funding higher education workforce development in a critical field, aligning with education funding and educator support indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated state fund ($1.5M/year) to provide scholarships for nurse educators, directly increasing healthcare workforce development funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Revenue Student Financial Aid Teachers Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Illinois · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 194: INC TX-IGROW CHECKOFF

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund checkoff. Provides that, through the checkoff, taxpayers may contribute to the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Fund. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the purpose of awarding iGROW Tech scholarships. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates voluntary income tax checkoff to fund tech scholarships, advancing education program funding through taxpayer contributions95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates iGROW Tech Scholarship Fund to provide financial support for students through taxpayer checkoff, directly advancing educational access and funding for tech education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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signed · Illinois · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 1537: STUDENT LOAN SERVICING RIGHTS

Amends the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act. Creates within the Act an Article concerning educational income share agreements. Contains provisions concerning: monthly payment affordability; maximum annual percentage rates; limits on the duration of income share agreements; risk sharing; limits on covered income; fees; restrictions on security interests; discharge of obligations; prohibitions on cosigners; limits on acceleration; assignment of wages; limitations on garnishment; use of multiple agreements; required disclosures; early completion of the agreement; assumption of increases in future income; receipts; and adjustment of dollar amounts. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce a violation of the Educational Income Share Agreements Article of the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act and the Interest Act to make conforming changes. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill regulates income share agreements for education financing with consumer protections, improving access to higher education through affordable alternatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · Illinois · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 1752: INC TX-STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer's employer on behalf of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer on behalf of an employee of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Provides that the deductions are limited to the first $5,250 of such assistance so furnished to any individual. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for employer/student loan repayment assistance, providing tax relief under Illinois tax code.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax deductions for employer-paid educational assistance (up to $5,250), directly supporting educational access and reducing financial barriers for employees seeking education.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Illinois · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 2850: STUDENT LOAN SERVICING RIGHTS

Amends the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act. Creates within the Act an Article concerning educational income share agreements. Contains provisions concerning: monthly payment affordability; maximum annual percentage rates; limits on the duration of income share agreements; risk sharing; limits on covered income; fees; restrictions on security interests; discharge of obligations; prohibitions on cosigners; limits on acceleration; assignment of wages; limitations on garnishment; use of multiple agreements; required disclosures; early completion of the agreement; assumption of increases in future income; receipts; and adjustment of dollar amounts. Provides that the Attorney General may enforce a violation of the Educational Income Share Agreements Article of the Student Loan Servicing Rights Act as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act and the Interest Act to make conforming changes. Provides that the provisions of the amendatory Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRegulates student loan servicing with consumer protections (APR limits, duration caps), enhancing access to higher education financing and reducing financial barriers for students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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