# Illinois HB4304: HIGHER ED STUDENT BILL OF RTS

Illinois HB4304, HIGHER ED STUDENT BILL OF RTS, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-08-07 (Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0768) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4304-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois HB4304
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: HIGHER ED STUDENT BILL OF RTS
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-06
- Last action: 2026-08-07, Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0768
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: higher education, assignments, executive
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 5 (133 yes, 64 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Creates the Higher Education Student Bill of Rights Act. Provides that a student attending a postsecondary education institution in the State is entitled to the following rights: the right to an inclusive and safe learning environment; the right to equal access; the right to safety and respect; the right to accessibility; the right to free expression; the right to organize; the right to peaceful protest; the right to academic transparency; the right to fair evaluation; the right to educational records; the right to educational programs safeguarded from political interference; the right to career preparation; the right to educational quality; the right to due process; the right to representation; the right to institutional accountability; the right to financial transparency; the right to fair lending and borrowing practices; the right to timely refunds and withdrawals; and the right to transfer.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Cosponsor: Emanuel "Chris" Welch (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Katie Stuart (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael W. Halpin (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Chung (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-05-31 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed; | pass | 37 | 19 |   |
| 2026-05-20 | Senate | Do Pass Executive; | pass | 8 | 4 |   |
| 2026-04-14 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed | pass | 72 | 37 |   |
| 2026-04-08 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; | pass | 9 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-19 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; | pass | 7 | 4 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2026-08-07: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0768 (House)
- 2026-08-07: Effective Date January 1, 2027 (House)
- 2026-08-07: Governor Approved (House)
- 2026-06-26: Sent to the Governor (House)
- 2026-05-31: Passed Both Houses (House)
- 2026-05-31: Third Reading - Passed; 037-019-000 (Senate)
- 2026-05-22: Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-21: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 25, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-21: Second Reading (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 21, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-20: Do Pass Executive; 008-004-000 (Senate)
- 2026-05-15: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 22, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-05-08: Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-04-28: Assigned to Executive (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: First Reading (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 16, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Arrive in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-04-14: Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-037-000 (House)
- 2026-04-14: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-14: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-10: Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-10: Second Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-04-08: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 009-000-000 (House)
- 2026-04-07: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee (House)
- 2026-04-07: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (House)
- 2026-03-27: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-03-27: House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Katie Stuart (House)
- 2026-03-20: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate (House)
- 2026-03-19: Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 007-004-000 (House)
- 2026-02-25: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung (House)
- 2026-02-11: Assigned to Higher Education Committee (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Rules Committee (House)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading (House)
- 2026-01-06: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Katie Stuart (House)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304eng.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304enr.pdf)
- House Amendment 1: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304ham001.pdf)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS (passed house)
- SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS (passed senate)
- HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY (in committee)
- HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT (in committee)
- SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL (passed senate)
- SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION (signed)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304eng.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304enr.pdf)
- [House Amendment 1 (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304ham001.pdf)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/HB/PDF/10400HB4304.pdf)

## Related
- [HB5198: AFFORDABLE HOUSING-CILAS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB5198-2025-2026)
- [SB1937: PENSION CODE-VARIOUS](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB1937-2025-2026)
- [HB2563: CONDO-RESERVE STUDY](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB2563-2025-2026)
- [HB4701: LIMITATIONS FACILITY FEES ACT](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4701-2025-2026)
- [SB3008: DHS-ABLE PROGRAM INFO MATERIAL](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3008-2025-2026)
- [SB3484: VEH CD-PLATES-REGISTRATION](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3484-2025-2026)
- [Illinois bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois/bills)
- [Illinois state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/illinois)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-HB4304-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).