Distributed via email: April 18, 2025
This Week in Springfield
Last week was an important one in the legislative session, as both the Illinois House and Senate reached their third reading deadlines. Key points in the process, these deadlines mark when most bills must pass out of the chamber of origin to remain in consideration. There was significant legislative movement as lawmakers worked to advance proposals in the legislative process.IASB staff has taken stock of where legislation stands. Even though some bills didn’t make it past the deadline, they aren’t necessarily done for the year. Legislative language can still find its way into other bills, be added to shell bills, or be included in omnibus packages or the Budget Implementation (BIMP) bill.
Several bills of interest did not advance past the legislative deadline and may re-emerge later in the session. In the House, these include HB3247 (Rep. Lilian Jiménez) regarding immigration status, HB2787 (Rep. Terra Costa Howard) on homeschooling, and HB1358 (Rep. Sharon Chung) concerning waivers. In the Senate, this includes SB191 (Sen. Julie A. Morrison) regarding school bus safety belts, and SB2062 (Sen. Cristina Castro) related to the charter school renewal process.
Thank You for Speaking Up
IASB Calls to Action were able to generate over 2,800 witness slips in opposition to HB1358 (Rep. Sharon Chung) — enough to prevent the bill from being called for a vote on the House floor. IASB is also learning from legislators that they are hearing from school board members on major issues, which reinforces how impactful your advocacy has been. Thank you to all IASB members who sent letters, filed witness slips, and reached out to their local lawmakers in response to our Calls to Action. Your efforts helped us pause legislation that IASB opposed, and your continued support and advocacy for Illinois public schools is appreciated.Looking Ahead
The House will return to Springfield next week, while the Senate will remain on spring break for one more week. The next major deadline on the calendar is May 9, when bills must pass out of committee in their second chamber. As that date approaches, activity will pick up once again.Below is a list of key education-related bills that IASB is following and that passed out of their originating chamber.
House Bills that Passed and Will Now Move to the Senate
HB1189 (Rep. Jay Hoffman) amends the Prevailing Wage Act to broaden the definition of “public works.” The bill highlights specific projects that are now classified as public works. This may have a modest impact on school districts as it would require paying prevailing wage only if federal funds are used for the project.HB1237 (Rep. Maurice West, II) prohibits schools from using Native American names, mascots, and logos, was also heard. While the sponsor made some important changes to the timeline to retire a prohibited mascot to minimize fiscal and operational impact, concerns remained with how the bill addresses exemptions.
HB1366 (Rep. Michael Crawford) requires school districts to provide a notice to parents or guardians of a student with an IEP that they may invite others to an IEP meeting.
HB1411 (Rep. Christopher “C.D” Davidsmeyer) provides that if a school district distributes materials on bullying to students, the materials must be age and developmentally appropriate.
HB1430 (Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado) revises the Student Investment Account Act which allows for college savings by eliminating references to income-sharing agreements and expanding the definition and options for education financing.
HB1787 (Rep. Maura Hirschauer) requires that a school district provide training to substitute teachers. HFA1 was negotiated with IASB and other management groups to remove opposition.
HB1830 (Rep. William "Will" Davis) allows the Professional Review Panel to study any proposed legislation impacting Tier funds through the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula or the adequacy targets.
HB1861 (Rep. William "Will" Davis) addresses student residency for a limited group of students with extreme medical needs, but is very limited in scope.
HB1869 (Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez) allows the State Superintendent to designate ROEs/ISCs as learning partners.
HB2337 (Rep. Laura Faver Dias) puts limitations on waivers and settlement agreements, including scope and duration of the settlement. IASB is concerned that limiting the scope of settlements will cause hesitation among districts to settle, potentially leading to prolonged litigation and preventing the resolution of disputes.
HB2390 (Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl) addresses the process for member districts withdrawing from a special education joint agreement, including requiring that the district hold a public hearing and a develop a comprehensive plan, among other stipulations. HFA2 was negotiated by stakeholders to remove all opposition.
HB2418 (Rep. Joyce Mason) creates the Commission on Youth Sports.
HB2461 (Rep. Jaime Andrade, Jr.) sets aside 3% of the net proceeds of automated speed enforcement systems to schools or parks.
HB2521 (Rep. Joyce Mason) requires schools to administer fingerprint-based criminal background checks for game officials and referees.
HB2537 (Rep. Michelle Mussman) requires an IEP team to inform a parent or guardian and student with an IEP that the student's IEP services will be terminated after they graduate.
HB2574 (Rep. Sue Scherer) requires, on or before July 1, 2025, ISBE to report specified information for each assessment contract it enters into related to costs and vendors.
HB2685 (Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin) requires the creation of the Licensed School Librarian Task Force to consider budget appropriate resources for and employment of licensed school librarians.
HB2927 (Rep. La Shawn Ford) directs ISBE to conduct research to understand the experience of educators teaching history to students to determine how to implement inclusive-history-mandated units of study and to report recommendations by December 15, 2026.
HB2952 (Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez) adds public and private schools, along with other venues, to the list of locations that must provide a baby changing station in at least one restroom in a building.
HB2960 (Rep. Laura Faver Dias) provides that if a district offers health education, those classes must include instruction on mental health.
HB2962 (Rep. Michael Crawford) provides that the Secretary of State (SOS) shall issue a school bus driver permit with a restriction which will be valid for the operation of a school bus or a multifunction school active bus. SOS shall develop rules.
HB2970 (Rep. Anna Moeller) allows for teachers to grieve a notice to remedy as well as require specificity on the notice, as well as requires the notice to remedy be removed after three years.
HB2976 (Rep. Nicholas Smith) provides that a student may be excused for a civic event sponsored by a nonprofit organization or governmental entity, including but not limited to, an inauguration or an artistic or cultural performance or educational gathering that supports the mission of the sponsoring nonprofit organization.
HB2986 (Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock) is an ISBE clean-up bill which includes adjustments to the block grant system for Chicago schools, requiring auditing firms to submit the Annual Financial Report (AFR) to ISBE by February 15 (currently November 15) following each fiscal year, and repeals several grant programs that have not been used for years.
HB2997 (Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid) requires a unit of instruction for Arab American history.
HB3000 (Rep. Norine Hammond) requires school employees in grades 6-12 to have suicide prevention information on their I.D. cards, similar to the requirement for students.
HB3026 (Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid) requires the State Board of Education to adopt comprehensive guidance for school districts on starting new dual language education programs and expanding existing programs. IASB was opposed to the original bill as it mandated an online bilingual platform and marketing campaign but is neutral with the recently filed amendment as it removed all mandates.
HB3037 (Rep. Janet Yang Rohr) allows for a student to receive up to two waivers per year from a principle or athletic director to participate in non-school athletic event that is the same sport the student plays in school. The waiver applies to “All-Star Games.”
HB3039 (Rep. Janet Yang Rohr) allows a seventh- or eighth-grader to enroll in a required high school course if the course is offered by the high school and the student passes the end of course exam.
HB3081 (Rep. Aarón M. Ortiz) creates the Out-of-School Time (OST) Advisory Council for the purpose of providing information and advice on funding issues affecting out of school time programs.
HB3096 (Rep. Aarón M. Ortiz) provides that each high school must have at least one staff member as a contact for Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA).
HB3097 (Rep. Aarón M. Ortiz) requires schools to provide time during the school day for students to fill out a FAFSA.
HB3252 (Rep. Rick Ryan) provides that if a district offers workplace experience courses, those courses shall include instruction on legal protections in the workplace and legal protections against sexual harassment and racial and other forms of discrimination.
HB3275 (Rep. Lisa Davis) requires coaches to obtain and maintain a certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
HB3377 (Rep. Michelle Mussman) requires school districts to report data to ISBE on homeless students, including specific expenditures made, activities funded, and any additional auxiliary funding they may have received.
HB3446 (Rep. Mary Beth Canty) requires the Department of Early Childhood to post on their website college courses that are required for an Early Childhood Education teacher.
HB3500 (Rep. Suzanne M. Ness) states that starting with the 2026-2027 school year, schools must provide informational materials about the Illinois ABLE program during annual IEP reviews and to students with Section 504 plans.
HB3503 (Rep. Curtis Tarver II) requires the State Board of Education to conduct a comprehensive review of all mandated units of study every five years. IASB filed a witness slip in support of the bill.
HB3527 (Rep. Maurice West III) prohibits the use of discriminatory disability mascots.
HB3528 (Rep. Laura Faver Dias) states that no higher education institution may require a student teaching program to be unpaid.
HB3743 (Rep. Matt Hanson) includes railroad safety in the student handbook for grades K-12, unless the board opts out of including it.
HB3772 (Rep. William "Will" Davis) bans the use of expulsion in grades K-2 and requires the district superintendent to approve all suspensions for grades K-2 for three or more days. An amendment is coming that we hope will remove IASB opposition.
HB3851 (Rep. Janet Yang Rohr) expands the definition of “cyber bullying” to include posting or distributing of a digital replica by electronic means.
Senate Bills that Passed and Will Now Move to the House
SB28 (Sen. Kimberly Lightford) removes the requirement that student growth be used as a significant factor in educator and principal evaluations.SB40 (Sen. Willie Preston) amends the School Code and several other Acts to require health insurers to cover habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy as a treatment for stuttering for those covered by private or public insurance plans.
SB58 (Sen. Chris Belt) expands upon the Open for Business: Illinois’ 2024 Economic Growth Plan by requiring DCEO to develop a program of technical assistance to support regional manufacturing partnerships with public institutions and high schools.
SB69 (Sen. Laura Murphy) provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, accident and health insurance plans must include hippotherapy coverage.
SB71 (Sen. Laura Murphy) provides that beginning July 1, 2026, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Office of Homeland Security shall provide school districts with guidance for implementing a response plan for the release or explosion of hazardous substances being transported.
SB175 (Sen. Laura Fine) provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, accident and health insurance plans must include karyotype tests.
SB212 (Sen. Laura Fine) clarifies that employers must pay employees their regular wage during nursing breaks and cannot deduct pay or require use of paid leave.
SB220 (Sen. Mike Porfirio) allows employees to use up to eight hours per calendar month to participate in a funeral honors detail.
SB243 (Sen. Mike Porfirio) excuses board members from board meetings because of active military duty.
SB407 (Sen. Kimberly Lightford) creates a task force to study the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the student chronic absenteeism rate.
SB408 (Sen. Dave Koehler) amends the Illinois School Student Records Act to allow schools to keep a summary of performance for students that received special education services as a permanent record but does allow parents to opt out.
SB1231 (Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel) increases the minimum number of days to seven (currently five) that a school district must initiate a formal hearing to resolve disputes between a parent and a school about special education services.
SB1329 (Sen. Laura Murphy) allows the state superintendent or designee to notify a license holder’s current or most recent education employer that the license holder is being investigated for an alleged act.
SB1519 (Sen. Karina Villa) prohibits the use of municipal ticketing to students in schools.
SB1555 (Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel) adds the Department of Early Education as a member of the SPED Advisory Group.
SB1560 (Sen. Sara Feigenholtz) provides that, subject to appropriation, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, ISBE shall provide a mental health screener for districts to offer them annually to students enrolled in grades 3 through 12.
SB1583 (Sen. Mike Halpin) allows the state superintendent to designate a regional office of education or intermediate service center as a learning partner.
SB1584 (Sen. Sara Feigenholtz) permits ISBE to make rules allowing for extensions to short-term approval licenses.
SB1605 (Sen. Doris Turner) provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, agricultural education, agricultural business, or any other course that relates to agriculture shall satisfy prerequisite requirements to graduate from high school.
SB1616 (Sen. Ram Villivalam) requires the State Board of Education to publish on its website and distribute to districts, a list of all days affected by cultural, religious, or other observances, by February 1 of each year.
SB1672 (Sen. Chris Belt) requires on or before July 1, 2026, all K-3 school districts must report information on early literacy screeners to ISBE.
SB1740 (Sen. Mary Edley Allen) creates the Mandate Reduction Council to evaluate and assess mandates for the purpose of modifying, combining, or eliminating mandates. SB1740 also removes some outdated mandates from the School Code, such as requiring superintendents to include moral and humane education in the program of the teachers' institute.
SB1799 (Sen. Ram Villivalam) requires mutual agreement with the affected bargaining unit if a board of education attempts to enter into a new or renew a contract with a third party for non-instructional services more than once during a school year in an emergency situation. If it's three times or more, mutual agreement is mandatory.
SB1920 (Sen. Doris Turner) provides that, no later than July 1, 2026, ISBE shall encourage districts to collect teaching resources to support American Sign Language programs.
SB1947 (Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel) establishes a Teacher Performance Assessment Advisory Committee to aid in operationalizing and creating a pilot, state-developed, Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA). It also establishes a Teacher Pathway Program for paraprofessionals to earn an educator license in areas such as elementary education or special education.
SB2057 (Sen. Michael Hastings) requires ISBE to provide school districts with guidance for threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans.
SB2149 (Sen. Adriane Johnson) excludes depreciation of assets paid from federal or donated funds in the determination on the Per Capita Tuition Calculation (PCTC) used to calculate the tuition of children from orphanages and children's homes but only applies to limited school districts.
SB2306 (Sen. Rachel Ventura) expands the scope of clean energy projects eligible for funding through the Climate Bank Loan Financing Act. Specifically, the bill defines "climate resilience project" to include projects that reduce risks to people and property from future disasters or climate-related conditions, such as those ensuring access to clean water and wastewater treatment.
SB2427 (Sen. Cristina Castro) requires school districts to adopt a policy that prohibits student use of cellphones, with some exceptions such as emergencies and for technology used by students with disabilities.
SB2503 (Sen. Suzy Glowiak-Hilton) expands the roof licensing sunset date and clarifies that schools must hire a licensed roofer.
SJR2 (Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel) directs the Professional Review Panel and ISBE to conduct the analysis and financial modeling required to evaluate the implications of implementing the recommended maximum caseloads for special education resource teachers. SJR2 also requests the Professional Review Panel and ISBE to submit their findings in a written report to the General Assembly and Governor by December 31, 2026.