IllinoisHB3247104th General Assembly (2025–2026)House

SCH CD-PROHIBT DENIAL FREE ED

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Summary

Amends the School Code. Prohibits a child from being denied a free public education through secondary school while in the State based on the child's or associated person's perceived or actual citizenship or immigration status. Prohibits a school from excluding a child, or associated person, from participation in or denying a child, or associated person, the benefits of any program or activity on the grounds of that child's, or associated person's, actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status. Provides that a school must not use criteria, measures, or methods of administration that have the effect of excluding from participation or denying the benefits of any program or activity because of a child's, or associated person's, actual or perceived immigration status. Prohibits a school from threatening to disclose information regarding or relating to the actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status of a child, or associated person, or actually disclosing information based on perceived or unverified citizenship or immigration status, to any other person, entity, or any immigration or law enforcement agency. Provides that a school must not allow an immigration agent to enter a school site or school district facility for any purpose without providing valid identification, a written statement of purpose, and a valid judicial warrant, and, to the extent possible, receiving approval from the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the charter school, and their legal counsel. Provides that a school district or school must not detain any individual solely on the basis of any formal or informal request, or immigration detainer or civil immigration warrant from an immigration agent. Requires a school district or school to adopt a policy for complying with the amendatory Act. Allows any party aggrieved by a violation of the provisions to bring a civil lawsuit no later than 2 years after the violation occurred. Provides that if the court finds that a violation has occurred, the court may award to the plaintiff 3 times actual damages or $17,000, whichever is greater. Makes other changes.

education policyassignmentsexecutive

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Free schooling protections for immigrant families

Illinois public schools, including charter schools, cannot deny children free education through secondary school based on actual or perceived immigration status. Status-based bans also protect children's access to school programs and parents' participation in school activities. Schools cannot request or collect citizenship or immigration information unless state or federal law requires it. Schools cannot label citizenship, immigration status, birthplace, nationality, or national origin as directory information. The law also limits threats to share status information and sharing perceived status without direct knowledge of actual status. Even with direct knowledge, schools face limits on sharing actual status with other people or nongovernment groups. State and federal student-record rules still apply, and exchanges covered by federal immigration-information laws remain allowed.

School enforcement safeguards and family lawsuits

By July 1, 2026, schools must adopt status-protection policies and procedures for reviewing law-enforcement requests to enter school property. Procedures must name an authorized official, provide access to school lawyers, and cover monitoring, accompanying, and documenting officers' interactions. For immigration-enforcement access to students, schools must notify and seek consent from parents or guardians, or adult or emancipated students. This requirement does not apply when a judicial warrant or subpoena bars disclosure to the parent or guardian. Beginning July 1, 2026, people harmed by violations of the law's prohibited-practices rules can sue within two years of a violation. Courts may award actual damages for specified willful violations and order violations stopped or provide other relief. Winning plaintiffs who request them must receive reasonable lawyer fees and costs, including expert-witness fees and related litigation expenses. Families do not need to finish an administrative complaint process before suing.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Aarón M. Ortíz

    Democratic • House

  • Adriane L. Johnson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ann M. Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Anna Moeller

    Democratic • House

  • Anne Stava

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Carol Ammons

    Democratic • House

  • Celina Villanueva

    Democratic • Senate

  • Cristina Castro

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dagmara Avelar

    Democratic • House

  • Edgar González, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Emanuel "Chris" Welch

    Democratic • House

  • Emil Jones, III

    Democratic • Senate

  • Eva-Dina Delgado

    Democratic • House

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Democratic • Senate

  • Hoan Huynh

    Democratic • House

  • Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Javier L. Cervantes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kam Buckner

    Democratic • House

  • Karina Villa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kelly M. Cassidy

    Democratic • House

  • Kevin John Olickal

    Democratic • House

  • Laura Faver Dias

    Democratic • House

  • Lilian Jiménez

    Democratic • House

  • Lindsey LaPointe

    Democratic • House

  • Mark L. Walker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Maura Hirschauer

    Democratic • House

  • Michael Crawford

    Democratic • House

  • Michelle Mussman

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Simmons

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nabeela Syed

    Democratic • House

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Democratic • House

  • Norma Hernandez

    Democratic • House

  • Omar Aquino

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rachel Ventura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rita Mayfield

    Democratic • House

  • Robert F. Martwick

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robyn Gabel

    Democratic • House

  • Sara Feigenholtz

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sonya M. Harper

    Democratic • House

  • Theresa Mah

    Democratic • House

  • Will Guzzardi

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 138 • No: 72

Senate vote • 5/31/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 32 • No: 20

Senate vote • 5/29/2025

Do Pass Executive;

Yes: 8 • No: 4

House vote • 5/28/2025

Approved for Consideration Rules Committee;

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 5/28/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee;

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 5/28/2025

Third Reading - Unlimited Debate - Passed

Yes: 70 • No: 40 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/9/2025

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Education Policy Committee;

Yes: 9 • No: 4

House vote • 3/19/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Education Policy Committee;

Yes: 9 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0288

    8/15/2025House
  2. Effective Date January 1, 2026

    8/15/2025House
  3. Governor Approved

    8/15/2025House
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/24/2025House
  5. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán

    5/31/2025Senate
  6. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Omar Aquino

    5/31/2025Senate
  7. Passed Both Houses

    5/31/2025House
  8. Third Reading - Passed; 032-020-000

    5/31/2025Senate
  9. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro

    5/31/2025Senate
  10. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 31, 2025

    5/30/2025Senate
  11. Second Reading

    5/30/2025Senate
  12. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick

    5/29/2025Senate
  13. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 30, 2025

    5/29/2025Senate
  14. Do Pass Executive; 008-004-000

    5/29/2025Senate
  15. Rule 2-10 Third Reading/Passage Deadline Established As June 1, 2025

    5/29/2025Senate
  16. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva

    5/29/2025Senate
  17. Waive Posting Notice

    5/29/2025Senate
  18. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

    5/29/2025Senate
  19. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III

    5/29/2025Senate
  20. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons

    5/29/2025Senate
  21. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

    5/29/2025Senate
  22. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán

    5/29/2025Senate
  23. Assigned to Executive

    5/29/2025Senate
  24. Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025

    5/29/2025Senate
  25. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker

    5/29/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

  • Enrolled

  • House Amendment 1

  • House Amendment 2

  • House Amendment 3

  • Introduced

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