IllinoisIllinois public school dress codes protect religious hair and beards
Students' religious hair practices receive protection from public school dress codes, with temporary safety controls allowed; covered private schools also face limits, except religious schools.
What it does
Public school dress codes cannot restrict hair or beards worn for sincerely held religious beliefs. Schools may require temporary safety controls during specific activities, but those controls cannot require permanent changes.
Covered private schools must promise to allow religious hair and beards when registering with the state, and cannot ban them when seeking or holding state recognition. Religious schools are exempt.
The State Board of Education must give schools materials about students' religious hair practices and facial hair. It must also make those materials available on its website.
Argument forStudents could follow their religious hair practices without cutting or shaving, while schools can still require temporary controls for safety.
Argument againstThe religious-school exception could leave students and employees without these protections when school hair rules conflict with their religious beliefs.
More detail
Public school boards and local school councils cannot apply dress codes to students' religious hair practices or facial hair. These rules cover students in all Illinois public school districts, including special charter districts and districts with local school councils. The hair practices or facial hair must reflect the student's sincerely held religious beliefs or practices. For a specific activity, schools may require hair to be secured, covered, or controlled when necessary for student health or safety. They must use the least restrictive practical approach and cannot require cutting, shaving, or another permanent change. The law took effect July 31, 2026, when it became law.
Covered private schools must promise to allow religious hair practices when registering with the state. Schools seeking or holding state recognition cannot prohibit those practices. Covered schools are nonprofit private elementary and secondary schools outside the home that meet federal civil rights rules and Illinois school attendance requirements. The protections cover students' and employees' hair practices and facial hair tied to sincerely held religious beliefs or practices. Religious private schools are exempt from these limits on their religious-hair policies. The law took effect July 31, 2026, when it became law.
The State Board of Education must provide schools with materials about religious hair practices and facial hair, and post them on its website. The materials cover students' hair practices and facial hair that reflect sincerely held religious beliefs or practices. The materials must be developed in consultation with people or groups involved in the issue. The law took effect July 31, 2026, when it became law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 31Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0723Latest
- Jul 31Effective Date July 31, 2026
- Jul 31Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 18Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 26Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. William "Will" Davis
- May 22Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
- May 21Passed Both Houses
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 21Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 084-020-000Passed House
- May 19Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- May 19Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 7Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy
- May 6Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Do Pass / Short Debate Education Policy Committee; 008-002-000
- Apr 28Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
- Apr 27Assigned to Education Policy CommitteeMinor
- Apr 20Referred to Rules Committee
- Apr 20First ReadingMinor
- Apr 20Chief House Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
- Apr 17Arrived in HouseMinor
- Apr 16Third Reading - Passed; 050-005-000Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading ** April 15, 2026
- Mar 26Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 14, 2026
- Mar 26Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 4Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio
- Mar 4Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 5, 2026Minor
- Mar 4Do Pass as Amended Education; 014-000-000
- Mar 3Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler
- Mar 3Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education
- Mar 3Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam
- Mar 2Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
- Mar 2Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Mike SimmonsMinor
- Feb 24Postponed - Education
- Feb 17Assigned to EducationMinor
- Feb 4Referred to Assignments
- Feb 4First ReadingMinor
- Feb 4Filed with Secretary by Sen. Mike SimmonsIntroduced
EducationCivil Rights & Voting