Illinois Congressional Bills

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10455: Debt-Free College Act of 2026

The Debt-Free College Act of 2026 establishes a state-federal partnership that provides federal grants to states to cover the unmet financial need of eligible students attending in-state public colleges, effectively making tuition debt-free for those who qualify. To participate, states must commit to capping tuition increases at inflation levels, maintaining their current level of funding for higher education, and implementing student success programs that support low-income and underserved populations. The bill also creates a separate five-year grant program for specific minority-serving institutions and tribal colleges to help them cover student costs, while simultaneously expanding federal financial aid eligibility to include "Dreamer students" who entered the United States as minors under certain conditions.

Topics ✓ Education

Mark Pocan (D) · 17 co-sponsors

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10449: To establish a prohibition for certain disclosures of personally identifiable information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10448: Reverse Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act

The Reverse Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act removes specific tax incentives for large-scale data centers and artificial intelligence facilities. It excludes these facilities from bonus depreciation, a provision that currently allows businesses to deduct the full cost of certain equipment in the year it is purchased. Additionally, the bill prevents these properties from qualifying as opportunity zone business property, which would otherwise offer significant tax benefits for investments in designated areas. The legislation targets structures with a power capacity exceeding 50 megawatts that are dedicated to data storage, processing, or AI operations.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Technology

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10443: American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026

The American Procurement Improvement Act of 2026 modernizes the AbilityOne Program by renaming it the Commission for the Employment of Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Significant Disabilities and updating its statutory framework to better support employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The bill expands the definition of eligible workers to include those with significant disabilities beyond blindness, while requiring qualified nonprofit agencies to maintain a workforce where at least 51 percent of direct labor hours are performed by these participating employees. Key provisions mandate that agencies provide professional development and pay participating employees rates consistent with their nondisabled peers, and they establish new rules for adding or removing products from the federal procurement list, including time-limited additions for pilot projects. Additionally, the legislation introduces mechanisms to monitor involuntary terminations of workers, allows for governmentwide contract vehicles to improve procurement efficiency, and ensures that intergovernmental support agreements cannot be used to bypass these federal hiring requirements.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10439: Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act

The Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act extends the protections of the Military Lending Act to all consumers, not just active-duty military members and their dependents. This change caps interest rates on most consumer credit products at 36 percent per year and restricts certain fees and terms for loans extended by creditors. The bill excludes specific types of credit from these limits, including residential mortgages, auto loans secured by the vehicle being purchased, and loans made by federal credit unions that comply with existing usury laws. State attorneys general and regulators are granted authority to enforce these new rules through civil actions, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is required to issue implementing regulations within one year of enactment.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10429: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois, as the "Detective Allan Reddins Post Office Building".

This bill designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 901 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois, as the "Detective Allan Reddins Post Office Building." It also requires that any federal law, map, regulation, or document referencing this facility must use its new official name.

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10426: Backlog Justice Act of 2026

The Backlog Justice Act of 2026 aims to reduce the backlog of untested sexual assault evidence kits by requiring the Attorney General to create a public database tracking inventory levels and laboratory processing times across state and local jurisdictions. To address staffing shortages, the bill authorizes the FBI to develop training programs for forensic analysts and DNA technical leaders, allowing states and localities to hire individuals who have completed this federal training. Additionally, it funds a program for the FBI to collaborate with state and local providers on validating new DNA processing technologies and sharing related protocols. The legislation also provides increased grant funding to states that implement electronic tracking systems allowing sexual assault survivors to monitor the status of their evidence kits from collection through final disposition.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Emanuel Cleaver (D) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10425: Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026

The Environmental Health Restoration Act of 2026 requires the EPA to reinstate specific environmental regulations that were weakened or repealed after January 19, 2025, including standards for greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and vehicles, methane pollution from oil and gas operations, and hazardous air pollutants. The bill prohibits federal officials from delaying or weakening these rules without explicit congressional approval and mandates the restoration of scientific advisory bodies, peer-reviewed decision-making processes, and the use of a specific social cost of carbon value in regulatory calculations. Additionally, it directs the agency to restore environmental justice programs, prioritize enforcement in communities with disproportionate pollution burdens, and conduct public health impact assessments for new regulations. To ensure compliance, the legislation authorizes approximately $11 billion annually for EPA operations, requires annual reporting on enforcement activities, and grants individuals the right to sue the agency if it fails to meet these legal obligations.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10421: To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to increase support for elementary and secondary education, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, Science, Space, and Technology, Armed Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10415: Food for Thought Act of 2026

The Food for Thought Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Agriculture to provide free meals and snacks to low-income college students at eligible institutions, including community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and other minority-serving schools. To qualify, an institution must have at least 20 percent of its undergraduate students eligible for Federal Pell Grants, and grants are awarded for a maximum duration of two years with funds restricted to meal preparation, outreach, and limited equipment purchases. Recipients are required to prioritize students who receive Pell Grants or report food insecurity, while also evaluating institutional policies that may create barriers to enrollment and referring students to other federal benefit programs like SNAP. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 and mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture submit reports to Congress on the program's impact on student retention and completion rates.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10410: Educating Future Nurses Act

The Educating Future Nurses Act establishes a new federal program that reimburses eligible hospitals for the reasonable costs of providing clinical education to advanced practice registered nurses, including nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. To participate, hospitals must lead regional "Graduate Nurse Education Hubs" that partner with accredited nursing schools and at least two non-hospital community-based care settings, such as rural health clinics or home health agencies. Payments are calculated using a per-student rate adjusted for inflation, but the total reimbursement is capped based on the increase in graduate nurse enrollments compared to a 2024-2025 baseline. The bill requires hospitals to submit annual reports detailing student outcomes and workforce placement, with a 25% payment reduction imposed if reporting requirements are not met.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Illinois · House Sep 16, 2026

HR 10409: Lethal Means Safety Training Act

The Lethal Means Safety Training Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to update its suicide prevention and lethal means safety training within 180 days of enactment, ensuring the content is culturally appropriate and based on current best practices. The bill mandates that specific VA employees, including those in health and benefits administration, compensation examiners, and staff at vocational rehabilitation facilities, complete this training within 90 days of hiring and annually thereafter. Additionally, the legislation extends these requirements to non-VA community care providers and family caregivers who receive federal support, making completion of the course a condition for their participation in VA programs. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must also publish annual reports on training completion rates and make the course materials publicly available online.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Illinois Congressional Bills

Bill results