SB 1958 Illinois Senate · 104th Regular Session

TRANSFER REFORM-VARIOUS

Summary
Amends Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Defines "transfer articulation agreement". Sets forth the purpose of the Act. Provides that a State university shall (rather than the General Assembly encourages State universities) to facilitate the seamless transfer of credits toward a baccalaureate degree. Provides that a State university shall enter into a transfer articulation agreement with the community college district to provide a seamless pathway for transfer. Provides that if, within 180 calendar days of the community college's initial request to enter into a transfer articulation agreement with the State university, the community college and State university do not reach agreement on the transfer articulation agreement, then the community college and State university shall jointly implement the provisions of the Model Transfer Articulation Agreement. Provides that a Model Transfer Articulation Agreement shall be developed through a Transfer Articulation Committee by December 31, 2025. Requires each community college and State university to publish the institution's process and timeline for reviewing and making decisions regarding transfer credit requests on the institution's website. Removes language regarding the Board of Higher Education's reviews and reports. Provides instead that, by May 1, 2026, and May 1 of each subsequent year, each State university shall report to the Board of Higher Education specified information. Effective immediately.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Apr 10, 2025 Signed Aug 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 6 edits · Aug 15, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as Enrolled, removing the requirement for community colleges to create 'Associate degrees for transfer' and replacing the original Section 8 with a new Section 3 that restates the Act's purpose. Additionally, the mandatory requirement for State universities to enter into transfer articulation agreements upon request was removed, leaving the process voluntary unless specific new conditions are met.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from mandating specific degree structures and binding agreements to focusing on general policy goals and voluntary cooperation between institutions.
REQUIREMENT

The requirement for community colleges to develop and grant specific 'Associate degrees for transfer' was removed.

The mandatory obligation for State universities to enter into transfer articulation agreements upon request by community colleges was removed.

Section 10 was modified to remove subsections (c) through (e), which previously addressed articulation agreements, credit acceptance from other colleges, and remedial coursework.

Section 20 was modified to remove subsection (c), which previously encouraged State universities to facilitate seamless credit transfer.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Transfer articulation agreement' was updated to explicitly require the transfer of credits from an associate degree for transfer to a bachelor's degree.

A new Section 3 was added to formally state the purpose of the Act regarding equitable credit transfer practices.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House May 22, 2025

How they voted

550
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 58
Apr 10, 2025
D Democratic39
36 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
59
Key actions
14
Committee
18
Amendments
12
Aug 15, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Approved
upper
May 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Both Houses
upper
May 31, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Senate Concurs 057-000-000
upper
May 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 057-000-000
upper
May 28, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Higher Education; 013-000-000
upper
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Higher Education; 013-000-000
upper
May 27, 2025
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Higher Education
upper
May 27, 2025
Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Higher Education
upper
May 27, 2025
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
upper
May 27, 2025
Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
upper
May 22, 2025
Introduced
Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1, 2 - May 26, 2025
upper
May 22, 2025
Introduced
Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1, 2
upper
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 115-000-000
lower
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted by Voice Vote
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 011-000-000
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee
lower
May 19, 2025
Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
May 19, 2025
Introduced
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Terra Costa Howard
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 011-000-000
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Higher Education Committee; by Voice Vote
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Introduced
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Terra Costa Howard
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Assigned to Higher Education Committee
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Arrived in House
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading - Passed; 056-000-000
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Castro
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education; 013-000-000
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Committee
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Introduced
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Cristina Castro
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Do Pass Higher Education; 013-000-000
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
Assigned to Higher Education
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Assignments
upper
2 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors