Education

This bill requires healthcare facilities and schools to cover medical costs and pay full salary for staff injured during work-related assaults or aggressive incidents. It creates a system for reporting patient violence in digital health records (with patient appeal options) and ensures absences due to such incidents don’t count against paid leave. Directly affects healthcare workers, teachers, and school staff who face workplace violence while performing job duties.

HB 5426 requires all state institutions of higher education to allow students to bring an advisor or support person of their choice to disciplinary meetings starting July 1, 2026. This directly affects students facing disciplinary actions at public colleges and universities, ensuring they can have support during these proceedings. The policy must be adopted by August 1, 2026, with two key conditions: the advisor cannot delay the meeting, and for sexual assault, stalking, or intimate partner violence cases, existing state policies (Section 10a-55m) override this rule if they differ. The bill does not change disciplinary outcomes but mandates institutional policy changes to provide student support.

HB 5035 requires all public K-12 school districts in the state to ban students from using wireless communication devices (like cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day, except for instructional purposes or specific exceptions. The law mandates devices be powered off and stored securely, with exceptions for students needing them under individualized education plans (IEPs) or for medical reasons approved by healthcare providers. It also prohibits access to social media during school hours unless for classroom instruction. School districts must create and share policies with parents about these rules, including emergency communication procedures and disciplinary steps for violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.