summary
Introduced
10/29/2025
10/29/2025
In Committee
02/17/2026
02/17/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Provides that each academic year the board of trustees of each public university shall offer a full-tuition waiver for undergraduate education at any campus under the board's governance or supervision to any Illinois resident who: (i) was serving in the Illinois National Guard, the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Space Force, or a Reserve Officers' Training Corps program related to any of these armed service branches and was relying on full-tuition or partial-tuition assistance to complete the person's undergraduate education; (ii) has been discharged from service, either forcibly or by being given the choice of voluntary discharge or forced discharge, due to changes in federal policy leading to that person's discharge for reasons unrelated to performance; and (iii) has lost that tuition assistance prior to completion of the person's undergraduate education. Provides that to be eligible to receive a waiver, the individual must: (i) apply for the waiver; (ii) provide documentary proof of service, of prior tuition assistance, and of discharge; and (iii) qualify for admission to the university under the same admission requirements, standards, and policies that the university applies to applicants for admission generally to the university's respective undergraduate colleges and programs. Provides that an eligible applicant who has continued to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward graduation may have the individual's waiver renewed until the individual has expended 4 years of undergraduate full-tuition benefits. Requires the board to adopt rules as necessary for implementation and administration.
AI Summary
This bill requires each public university in Illinois to offer a full-tuition waiver for undergraduate education to Illinois residents who were serving in the military (including the Illinois National Guard, U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or ROTC programs) and were discharged due to changes in federal policy unrelated to their performance, resulting in the loss of their tuition assistance before completing their undergraduate degree. To be eligible, applicants must apply for the waiver, provide documentary proof of their military service and discharge, and meet the university's standard admission requirements. Eligible students who maintain satisfactory academic progress can have their tuition waiver renewed for up to four years of undergraduate education. The bill applies to multiple state universities, including the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Western Illinois University. Each university's board of trustees is required to adopt rules to implement and administer this tuition waiver program.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee Hearing (08:00:00 2/26/2026 Room C-1 Stratton Building) (on 02/26/2026)
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