IL HB4304 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly
Status
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)
Status: Enrolled on May 31 2026 - 75% progression
Action: 2026-05-31 - Passed Both Houses
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [HTML]
Status: Enrolled on May 31 2026 - 75% progression
Action: 2026-05-31 - Passed Both Houses
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [HTML]
Summary
Creates the Higher Education Student Support and Academic Freedom Act. Provides that public institutions of higher education shall strive to foster an environment that is free from unlawful discrimination or harassment based on any protected characteristic under applicable law, to maintain clear, content-neutral conduct standards and reporting channels designed to address unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and retaliation, and to have clear policies describing how students with disabilities can request and receive reasonable accommodations to enable equal academic and campus participation. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from unlawfully infringing on students' constitutional rights to free speech, press, assembly, and petition. Provides that public institutions of higher education shall have the ability to allow students to form and join associations and to allow students to engage in lawful, peaceful protest. Provides that public institutions of higher education shall strive to publish clear, accurate, and timely information regarding courses, degree pathways, credit evaluation and transferability, and graduation criteria and to assess academic performance based on demonstrated learning and achievement and pursuant to published standards. Provides that students have the right to inspect, review, and request corrections to higher educational records. Provides that public institutions of higher education shall have the ability to ensure academic programs are guided by professional and disciplinary standards and academic integrity. Provides that public institutions of higher education shall strive to provide students with information and opportunities in pertinent academic programs that promote workforce-relevant skills, career exploration, and stackable or recognized credentials of value, to provide independently accredited education that integrates broad learning, cultivates transferable skills, and prepares students for engaged citizenship, to provide students with a fair disciplinary process appropriate to the nature of the applicable disciplinary charge, to follow published policies and provide internal appeal routes for adverse educational actions as appropriate or required by applicable law, and to clearly disclose tuition, fees, and applicable, material financial obligations prior to and during enrollment. Provides that public institutions of higher education shall have the ability to publish transparent policies on tuition refunds, withdrawals, and cancellations and shall strive to provide a timely, transparent, and consistent evaluation of transfer credits using published criteria. Sets forth provisions concerning construction of the Act.
Title
HIGHER ED STUDENT BILL OF RTS
Sponsors
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | House | Passed Both Houses |
| 2026-05-31 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; 037-019-000 |
| 2026-05-22 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2026 |
| 2026-05-21 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 25, 2026 |
| 2026-05-21 | Senate | Second Reading |
| 2026-05-20 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 21, 2026 |
| 2026-05-20 | Senate | Do Pass Executive; 008-004-000 |
| 2026-05-15 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 22, 2026 |
| 2026-05-08 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026 |
| 2026-04-28 | Senate | Assigned to Executive |
| 2026-04-16 | Senate | Referred to Assignments |
| 2026-04-16 | Senate | First Reading |
| 2026-04-16 | Senate | Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin |
| 2026-04-15 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 16, 2026 |
| 2026-04-15 | Senate | Arrive in Senate |
| 2026-04-14 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-037-000 |
| 2026-04-14 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate |
| 2026-04-14 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 2026-04-08 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 009-000-000 |
| 2026-04-07 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee |
| 2026-04-07 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch |
| 2026-03-27 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 2026-03-27 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Katie Stuart |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate |
| 2026-03-19 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 007-004-000 |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Assigned to Higher Education Committee |
| 2026-01-14 | House | Referred to Rules Committee |
| 2026-01-14 | House | First Reading |
| 2026-01-06 | House | Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Katie Stuart |
