IllinoisHJR0053104th General Assembly (2025–2026)House

PROFESSIONAL DEGREES-LICENSURE

Sponsored By: Lindsey LaPointe

Passed

Summary

Expresses the belief that nursing, social work, professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, physician assistant practice, public health, and education are professional disciplines that require advanced graduate education, professional licensure, and adherence to rigorous ethical and clinical standards. Lists the graduate degrees that should be considered professional degrees. States that any state agency, public university, or entity receiving state funds should take all necessary steps to avoid discrimination against individuals holding these graduate degrees in hiring, promotion, compensation, professional development funding, or other terms and conditions of employment based on any federal student loan classification. Urges the United States Department of Education to include all graduate degrees in nursing, social work, counseling, therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, audiology, physician assistant practice, public health, and education in its definition of "professional degrees" for federal student loan purposes. Urges the Illinois Congressional Delegation to advocate for legislation to ensure that graduate students in all health and human services professions have access to adequate federal student loan funding to complete their professional education. Commits to exploring state-level solutions to support graduate education in health and human services professions, including but not limited to scholarships, grants, loan repayment assistance programs, and other workforce development initiatives. Expresses support for the licensed health and human services professionals in Illinois who serve our most vulnerable populations with skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the public good.

health care licenses

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lindsey LaPointe

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Gregg Johnson

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Jawaharial Williams

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Katie Stuart

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Lisa Davis

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Margaret A. DeLaRosa

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Martha Deuter

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Michael Crawford

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Michelle Mussman

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Nicolle Grasse

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Yolonda Morris

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 86 • No: 27

House vote 5/28/2026

Resolution Adopted

Yes: 72 • No: 27

House vote 4/15/2026

Recommends Be Adopted Health Care Licenses Committee;

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Resolution Adopted 072-027-000

    5/28/2026House
  2. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

    5/28/2026House
  3. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams

    5/28/2026House
  4. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret A. DeLaRosa

    5/28/2026House
  5. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris

    5/28/2026House
  6. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman

    5/28/2026House
  7. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis

    5/28/2026House
  8. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Martha Deuter

    5/28/2026House
  9. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse

    5/28/2026House
  10. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson

    4/15/2026House
  11. Placed on Calendar Order of Resolutions

    4/15/2026House
  12. Recommends Be Adopted Health Care Licenses Committee; 014-000-000

    4/15/2026House
  13. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart

    3/12/2026House
  14. Assigned to Health Care Licenses Committee

    3/4/2026House
  15. Referred to Rules Committee

    2/17/2026House
  16. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

    2/4/2026House

Bill Text

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