Appropriates $450,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for competitive per capita grants for prison education programs that assist incarcerated students in attaining associate degrees. Appropriates $350,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for competitive per capita grants for prison education programs that assist incarcerated students in attaining bachelor's degrees. Effective July 1, 2026.
Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the University of Illinois for the purpose of increasing the extension service trust fund allocation for the University of Illinois Extension program to enable the University of Illinois Extension program to achieve the stated purpose of the Farmland Transition Commission under the Farmland Transition Commission Act, which includes examining current barriers individuals ages 25 through 40 years old face when trying to purchase or access farmland, reviewing current incentives and policies to encourage the transfer of farmland to current or prospective farmers ages 25 through 40 years old, and compiling resources about and assisting current and prospective farmers ages 25 through 40 years old with barriers in purchasing or otherwise accessing farmland for farm operations. Effective July 1, 2026.
Appropriates $15,000,000 to the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees for the expansion of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to expand its research capabilities and to increase biomanufacturing workforce training. Effective July 1, 2026.
Appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) Program. Effective July 1, 2026.
Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the LEARN John & Kathy Schreiber Campus for facility renovation. Effective July 1, 2026.
Declares May 29, 2026 as 529 College Savings Day in the State of Illinois to help raise awareness about the escalating costs of higher education and the importance of saving for college with the help of Illinois 529 College Savings Plans.
Encourages the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to provide ACT WorkKeys assessments or a comparable career readiness assessment at no cost to students. Encourages participation in such assessments to be voluntary and for no student to be required to participate. Encourages ISBE and local school districts to annually publish information regarding career readiness assessments and opportunities to earn a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) or similar credential. Encourages the Illinois Community College Board to work with community colleges to develop and implement policies to award academic credit toward associate degree programs in workforce, applied science, or technical fields. Encourages such credit to: (1) align with credit recommendations published by the American Council on Education (ACE) or other recognized credit recommendation frameworks, or (2) apply to technical and workforce-aligned associate degree programs. Affirms that nothing in this Resolution should be construed to require public universities or private institutions of higher education to accept such credit. Encourages ISBE to collect and report to the General Assembly aggregate statewide data on student access to career readiness assessments, participation rates, credential attainment outcomes, and postsecondary enrollment outcomes.
Appropriates $20,000,000 to the University of Illinois for the purpose of increasing the extension service trust fund allocation for the University of Illinois Extension program. Effective July 1, 2026.
Appropriates $10,000,000 to the Board of Higher Education for the administration and distribution of grants to public universities for the implementation of the Bridge Program for Underrepresented Students Act. Effective July 1, 2026.
Appropriates $15,000,000 to the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees for the expansion of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to expand its research capabilities and to increase biomanufacturing workforce training. Effective July 1, 2026.
