Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that the State Comptroller, in coordination with the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer a program under which eligible school districts located in Cook County may receive interest-free loans from the State Treasury to address cash flow shortages caused by the delayed issuance of property tax bills by the Cook County Treasurer. Provides that a school district shall be eligible for a loan if the Cook County Treasurer fails to issue property tax bills by the statutory deadline under the Property Tax Code, the failure results in a delay in the receipt of property tax revenues, and the State Board of Education certifies that the district has experienced or will immediately experience a cash flow deficit as a result of the delay. Provides that the loans shall be limited to the amount necessary to maintain essential operations and shall bear no interest to the borrowing district. Provides that the term for a loan shall not exceed 12 months, and that the loan shall repaid in full upon receipt of delayed property tax revenues. Provides that the Cook County shall reimburse the State Treasury for the full amount of interest income lost by the State on any loan. Effective immediately.
Amends the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to establish the Mental Health Council. Establishes the student membership of the Council. Provides that the Council shall make recommendations to the Board regarding youth mental health. Requires the Council to meet at least 4 times annually.
Appropriates $1,000,000 to the Illinois Community College Board for the purpose of implementing the Community College Economic Empowerment Act. Effective July 1, 2026.
HB 4811 prohibits all Illinois public high schools from starting classes before 8:30 a.m. This law directly affects every public high school in the state by requiring a minimum start time. The bill amends the School Code to establish this specific time requirement, replacing any existing earlier start times. It creates a concrete policy change with no exceptions specified in the current text. The law applies uniformly to all public high schools under Illinois education regulations.
Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Northern Illinois University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $104,676,300; Other State Funds $22,000; Total $104,698,300.
Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. With regard to the suspension or revocation of a license, endorsement, or approval, provides that failure of the State Superintendent of Education to complete its investigation and issue formal discipline or otherwise dispose of the investigation within one year after the State Superintendent receives any written investigatory evidence relating to a particular license holder shall result in the investigation being deemed completed and the allegations against the license holder shall be determined to be unsubstantiated and dismissed with prejudice by the State Superintendent. Provides that formal documentation of an unsubstantiated determination shall state that no further action will be taken by the State Superintendent arising from the same facts or circumstances and shall be sent to the license holder within 45 business days after the unsubstantiated determination.
Amends the School Code. For websites that are blocked from being accessed by a student on a school-issued electronic device, requires each school board to develop an appeal process by which a student, at the request of the student's parent or guardian, may access a blocked website if the website is reasonably related to the student's education or pursuit of work opportunities during or after high school.
Amends the School Code. Requires, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, for a pupil entering grade 9 to complete one semester of a stand-alone financial literacy course as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, to be taken in grade 11 or 12. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a Financial Literacy Implementation Committee no later than June 30, 2027 to make recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education concerning the implementation of a stand-alone financial literacy course. Makes conforming and other changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers who are the custodians of one or more children who attend an eligible preschool program in the State during the taxable year. Provides that the amount of the credit shall be 100% of the eligible expenses incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year in sending the child to the eligible preschool program, but not to exceed $1,500 per child. Effective immediately.
Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that a licensed day care center may hire an individual who is in the process of completing the educational requirements set forth in administrative rules as an Interim Conditional Child Care Director for a period of 12 months. Requires the hired individual to provide documentation that shows that the individual is enrolled in courses that meet the requirements set forth in administrative rules. Provides that the individual shall be enrolled in an accredited college or university. Provides that during the 12-month employment period, an Interim Conditional Child Care Director with specified qualifications is exempt from the educational requirements set forth in administrative rules.
