IllinoisHB4420104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET

COLLEGE PRESS ACT-PUBLIC MEDIA

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Became Law

Summary

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Defines "public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning". Provides that all public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the employees producing the media at the institution of higher learning. Provides that public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is not subject to prior review by public officials of the State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Allows an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court for violation of the Act by such State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that expression made by an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is neither expression of campus policy nor speech attributable to a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is immune from any lawsuit arising from expression actually made in public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Makes other changes.

higher educationassignmentsexecutive

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Public media staff get editorial freedom

At Illinois public colleges and universities, public media made under a school license with public funding is a public forum. The employees who produce it are the speakers, not the school. School officials cannot do prior review of that media.

Student media is a public forum

At Illinois public colleges and universities, student-run campus media is a public forum. Student journalists and editors control what gets published. School officials cannot review or approve content before it runs. This applies whether the outlet is campus-sponsored or not.

Students and staff can sue over censorship

Students, campus media advisers, and employees or agents of public media at Illinois state schools can sue to enforce these free-press rules. Courts can issue orders to stop violations and declare rights. A judge may award attorney’s fees to the winning party.

Your speech is yours; school not liable

Content in campus or public media at Illinois state schools is your speech, not the school’s official position. Schools are immune from lawsuits over what is actually published in those outlets. This immunity does not cover the school’s own official statements.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • David Koehler

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Emanuel "Chris" Welch

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Gregg Johnson

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Jehan Gordon-Booth

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Karina Villa

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Katie Stuart

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Michael W. Halpin

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Sharon Chung

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Steve Stadelman

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 134 • No: 59

Senate vote 5/20/2026

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 39 • No: 19

Senate vote 5/6/2026

Do Pass Executive;

Yes: 9 • No: 4

House vote 4/16/2026

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 75 • No: 36

House vote 3/19/2026

Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee;

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0488

    6/26/2026House
  2. Effective Date January 1, 2027

    6/26/2026House
  3. Governor Approved

    6/26/2026House
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2026House
  5. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman

    6/1/2026Senate
  6. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

    5/31/2026Senate
  7. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin

    5/31/2026Senate
  8. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa

    5/20/2026Senate
  9. Passed Both Houses

    5/20/2026House
  10. Third Reading - Passed; 039-019-000

    5/20/2026Senate
  11. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026

    5/14/2026Senate
  12. Second Reading

    5/14/2026Senate
  13. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026

    5/6/2026Senate
  14. Do Pass Executive; 009-004-000

    5/6/2026Senate
  15. Assigned to Executive

    4/28/2026Senate
  16. Referred to Assignments

    4/21/2026Senate
  17. First Reading

    4/21/2026Senate
  18. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. David Koehler

    4/21/2026Senate
  19. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

    4/21/2026Senate
  20. Arrive in Senate

    4/21/2026Senate
  21. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 075-036-000

    4/16/2026House
  22. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart

    4/8/2026House
  23. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson

    4/8/2026House
  24. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth

    4/8/2026House
  25. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    4/7/2026House

Bill Text

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