Education (Higher Education)

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.

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 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.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Prison Education Fund. Provides that moneys in the Prison Education Fund shall be used by the Illinois Community College Board and Illinois Board of Higher Education to make grants to prison education programs that award associate degrees or bachelor's degrees to currently incarcerated students. Makes changes concerning the allocation of money from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that 0.5% of the moneys in the Cannabis Regulation Fund, after certain allocations have been made, shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Prison Education Fund.

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Defines "public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning". Provides that all public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the employees producing the media at the institution of higher learning. Provides that public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is not subject to prior review by public officials of the State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Allows an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court for violation of the Act by such State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that expression made by an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is neither expression of campus policy nor speech attributable to a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is immune from any lawsuit arising from expression actually made in public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Makes other changes.

Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Subject to appropriation, requires the Board of Higher Education to create a school counselor stipend program. Provides that an educator preparation program shall notify the Board of all eligible students and eligible cooperating school counselors who qualify for the stipend program. Sets forth requirements for the disbursement of stipend funds under the program. Provides that an educator preparation program may not prohibit an eligible student from participating in the stipend program or from receiving a stipend from the stipend program. Requires an eligible cooperating school counselor who receives a stipend to complete specific training. Requires the Board to issue a report, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, evaluating the impact of the stipend program. Permits the Board to adopt emergency rules regarding the administration of the stipend program in certain circumstances. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Prison Education Fund. Provides that moneys in the Prison Education Fund shall be used by the Illinois Community College Board and the Board of Higher Education to make grants to prison education programs that award associate degrees or bachelor's degrees to currently incarcerated students. Makes changes concerning the allocation of money from the Cannabis Regulation Fund. Provides that 0.5% of the moneys in the Cannabis Regulation Fund, after certain allocations have been made, shall be transferred from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to the Prison Education Fund.

HB 4520 allocates $1 million from Illinois' General Revenue Fund to establish the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Fund. This funding would support colleges and universities in creating or expanding programs to address student food insecurity. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy requirements. It directly affects higher education institutions eligible to apply for these grants.

Appropriates $1,000,000 to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to fund the Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program and make grants to reimburse universities for unfunded liabilities related to the Program. Effective July 1, 2026.