IllinoisIllinois law sets student protections and college expectations
Illinois law sets out expectations for public colleges and universities on student access, speech, records, discipline, and information about college programs.
What it does
Public colleges and universities should strive to support safe, fair, and accessible learning, and share clear information about courses, costs, careers, and transfer credits.
Students’ speech rights are protected, while colleges may use neutral rules for speech, protests, and student groups, including rules to protect safety and campus activities.
Students may review and ask to correct education records. Schools should strive to use fair discipline processes and follow published policies, within limits set by law.
Argument forClearer accommodation and discipline procedures may help students understand how to seek support and respond to charges.
Argument againstNeutral campus rules may limit when and where students can speak or protest, and colleges may reject transfer credits that do not meet their academic standards.
More detail
The law says public colleges and universities should strive to support safe, fair, and accessible learning and provide clear information to students. These provisions cover Illinois public colleges and universities and their students. Schools must follow applicable law. The Act does not create a private right to sue or require schools to risk losing funds.
The law protects students’ constitutional speech rights while allowing colleges to set certain neutral rules for campus activities. These provisions apply to students and public colleges and universities in Illinois. Colleges may use reasonable, viewpoint-neutral rules for when, where, and how students speak or protest, including rules to protect safety and keep educational activities running. Student groups may face reasonable, consistently enforced, viewpoint-neutral rules for recognition and funding. All provisions remain subject to applicable law.
The law recognizes students’ right to review and request corrections to education records, and says schools should strive to use fair discipline processes and follow published policies. These provisions cover students and public colleges and universities in Illinois. A discipline process should fit the charge and include notice, access to relevant evidence when feasible, and a chance to be heard, as applicable law allows. The Act creates no contractual rights or private right to sue. It does not require schools to violate other laws or risk losing federal or other funds.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 7Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0768Latest
- Aug 7Effective Date January 1, 2027
- Aug 7Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 26Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 31Passed Both Houses
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 31Third Reading - Passed; 037-019-000Passed Senate
- May 22Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2026
- May 21Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 25, 2026
- May 21Second ReadingMinor
- May 20Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 21, 2026Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20Do Pass Executive; 008-004-000
- May 15Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 22, 2026
- May 8Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
- Apr 28Assigned to ExecutiveMinor
- Apr 16Referred to Assignments
- Apr 16First ReadingMinor
- Apr 16Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin
- Apr 15Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 16, 2026Minor
- Apr 15Arrive in SenateMinor
- Apr 14Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-037-000Passed House
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- Apr 14House Floor Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- Apr 10Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 10Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Apr 8House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 009-000-000Minor
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee
- Apr 7Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
- Mar 27House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- Mar 27House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Katie StuartMinor
- Mar 20Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Mar 19Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 007-004-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sharon Chung
- Feb 11Assigned to Higher Education CommitteeMinor
- Jan 14Referred to Rules Committee
- Jan 14First ReadingMinor
- Jan 6Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Katie StuartIntroduced
EducationCivil Rights & Voting