Bill Text: IL HB1237 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot. Provides, however, that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act until September 1, 2028 if specified requirements are met. Provides that for any school whose team name is the name of a federally recognized tribe or historical Native American person, the school may continue to use its current team name and an agreed upon logo and mascot on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act if certain conditions are met. Provides that nothing in the provisions may be interpreted to prohibit county, municipality, or school district names.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 36)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2025-07-10 - Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam [HB1237 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB1237-Introduced.html

---

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1237 Introduced , by Rep. Maurice A. West, II SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new
Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit a school from using a native name, logo, or mascot; defines "native name, logo, or mascot". However, provides that a school may continue to use uniforms or other materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were purchased on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act until September 1, 2028 if specified requirements are met.
LRB104 06188 LNS 16223 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
HB1237 LRB104 06188 LNS 16223 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
10-20.88 and 34-18.88 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.88 new)
Sec. 10-20.88. Native name, logo, or mascot.
(a) As used in this Section, "native name, logo, or
mascot" means any person, animal, or object used to represent
a school that names, refers to, represents, or is associated
with Native Americans, including aspects of Native American
cultures and specific Native American tribes.
(b) A school board shall prohibit a school from using a
native name, logo, or mascot, except as provided in subsection
(c).
(c) A school may continue to use uniforms or other
materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were
purchased on or before the effective date of this amendatory
Act of the 104th General Assembly until September 1, 2028 if
all the following requirements are met:
(1) The school selects a new school or athletic team
name, logo, or mascot that does not violate the
prohibition under subsection (b).

HB1237 - 2 - LRB104 06188 LNS 16223 b
(2) The school refrains from purchasing, acquiring, or
using resources for the purpose of distribution or sale to
pupils or school employees any uniform that includes or
bears the prohibited school or athletic team name, logo,
or mascot.
(3) The school refrains from purchasing, acquiring, or
using resources for the purpose of distribution or sale to
pupils or school employees any yearbook, newspaper,
program, or other tangible material that includes or bears
the prohibited school or athletic team name, logo, or
mascot in the logo or title of the yearbook, newspaper,
program, or other tangible material.
(4) If a school facility bears the prohibited school
or athletic team name, logo, or mascot, the school removes
the prohibited name, logo, or mascot no later than the
next time that part of the facility where the name, logo,
or mascot is located is remodeled or replaced in the
normal course of maintenance and the school refrains from
purchasing or constructing a marquee, sign, or other new
or replacement fixture that includes or bears the
prohibited school or athletic team name, logo, or mascot.
(105 ILCS 5/34-18.88 new)
Sec. 34-18.88. Native name, logo, or mascot.
(a) As used in this Section, "native name, logo, or
mascot" means any person, animal, or object used to represent

HB1237 - 3 - LRB104 06188 LNS 16223 b
a school that names, refers to, represents, or is associated
with Native Americans, including aspects of Native American
cultures and specific Native American tribes.
(b) The board shall prohibit a school from using a native
name, logo, or mascot, except as provided in subsection (c).
(c) A school may continue to use uniforms or other
materials bearing a native name, logo, or mascot that were
purchased on or before the effective date of this amendatory
Act of the 104th General Assembly until September 1, 2028 if
all the following requirements are met:
(1) The school selects a new school or athletic team
name, logo, or mascot that does not violate the
prohibition under subsection (b).
(2) The school refrains from purchasing, acquiring, or
using resources for the purpose of distribution or sale to
pupils or school employees any uniform that includes or
bears the prohibited school or athletic team name, logo,
or mascot.
(3) The school refrains from purchasing, acquiring, or
using resources for the purpose of distribution or sale to
pupils or school employees any yearbook, newspaper,
program, or other tangible material that includes or bears
the prohibited school or athletic team name, logo, or
mascot in the logo or title of the yearbook, newspaper,
program, or other tangible material.
(4) If a school facility bears the prohibited school

HB1237 - 4 - LRB104 06188 LNS 16223 b
or athletic team name, logo, or mascot, the school removes
the prohibited name, logo, or mascot no later than the
next time that part of the facility where the name, logo,
or mascot is located is remodeled or replaced in the
normal course of maintenance and the school refrains from
purchasing or constructing a marquee, sign, or other new
or replacement fixture that includes or bears the
prohibited school or athletic team name, logo, or mascot.