summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
02/24/2026
02/24/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Public Interest Attorney Assistance Act. Allows a solo practitioner in or employed by a private practice in a county with 20 or fewer attorneys in private practice to be considered a "public interest attorney" who may apply for loan repayment assistance under the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Allows a graduate of a law school located in the State who is a licensed attorney in another state in good standing to be eligible for assistance. Adds as an eligibility requirement that an applicant must not have earned more than $120,000 from the practice of law in the prior 12 months. Raises the maximum amount of assistance to $10,000 (rather than $6,000) per year and $50,000 (rather than $30,000) during a program participant's career. Makes other changes.
AI Summary
This bill expands eligibility for the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Assistance Program, which helps attorneys with student loan debt who work in public service. It now includes solo practitioners in counties with 20 or fewer attorneys in private practice as "public interest attorneys." Additionally, graduates of Illinois law schools licensed in other states can now apply, and a new requirement states that applicants must not have earned more than $120,000 from their legal practice in the previous 12 months. The maximum annual loan repayment assistance is increased from $6,000 to $10,000, and the lifetime maximum is raised from $30,000 to $50,000.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Assigned to Appropriations-Higher Education Committee (on 02/24/2026)
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