# Illinois SB3301: SCH CD-EXEMPT FOREIGN LANG REQ

Illinois SB3301, SCH CD-EXEMPT FOREIGN LANG REQ, is a 104th General Assembly (2025–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Chris Balkema (Republican); status in committee, last action 2026-04-30 (Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IL-SB3301-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Illinois SB3301
- State: Illinois
- Session: 104th General Assembly (2025–2026)
- Title: SCH CD-EXEMPT FOREIGN LANG REQ
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-03
- Last action: 2026-04-30, Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
- Sponsor: Chris Balkema (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: assignments
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district is exempt from requiring pupils, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, to complete 2 years of foreign language in order to graduate if the school district sends a written request to waive the requirement to the State Board of Education and includes evidence in the request that the school district does not have the employees necessary to provide 2 years of foreign language education to all pupils in secondary school within the school district. Provides that after receiving a written request from a school district, the State Superintendent of Education shall approve the request if the evidence included in the request is determined by the State Superintendent to be sufficient. Provides that a pupil is exempt from the 2-year foreign language requirement if the pupil or a school counselor, in consultation with the pupil, develops a postsecondary plan that is centered around postsecondary opportunities that do not include postsecondary education through an institution of higher education. Provides that the pupil or the school counselor shall send the postsecondary plan to the superintendent of the school district in order to be exempt from the 2-year foreign language requirement. Effective July 1, 2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris Balkema (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Javier L. Cervantes (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mattie Hunter (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (5)

- 2026-04-30: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes (Senate)
- 2026-04-17: Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Referred to Assignments (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: First Reading (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Filed with Secretary by Sen. Chris Balkema (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced: [PDF](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB3301.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
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/104/SB/PDF/10400SB3301.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-SB3301-2025-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).