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2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Pushkin

Requires high school civics courses to guide voter registration and allow preregistration for eligible students, with opt-out for students or their parents/guardians.

To House Judiciary

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HB 3251 — SCH CD‑VOTER REGISTRATION

Status: Introduced (House Bill). Introduced 2/18/2025 by Rep. Janet Yang Rohr; added co‑sponsor Rep. Amy Briel (4/10/2025). Referred to Rules, Education Policy, and Culture, Recreation & Tourism committees; reported favorably in committee (4/8/2025). Placed on calendars and on the General State Calendar (4/29/2025). Companion bill: SB 1426.

Purpose / Intent

To amend the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/27‑22) so that required high‑school civics instruction actively guides students through voter registration and, when they meet state age/eligibility requirements, allows them to preregister to vote — while preserving an opt‑out option for students or their parent/legal guardian.

Key provisions

Adds language to the statutory description of required high‑school civics courses to require that:

Each required civics class "guide students through the voter registration process."
If a student is of the eligible age under state law, the class must allow the student to preregister to vote.

Establishes an opt‑out: a student or the student's parent/legal guardian may opt the student out of preregistration.

The change is an amendment to Section 27‑22 of the School Code, within the broader set of existing graduation/course requirements (the civics requirement is at least one semester of social studies).

Who is affected

High‑school students taking required civics courses (generally those entering/completing 9th–12th grades under the School Code).

School districts and high schools — required to incorporate voter‑registration guidance and accommodate preregistration procedures.

Parents or legal guardians — have the statutory ability to opt students out of preregistration.

Local election authorities or the State Board of Elections — may experience operational effects if schools submit preregistrations or coordinate materials/processes.

Practical implications

Administrative/operational: districts will need materials, staff training, and processes for guiding students through registration/preregistration and for handling opt‑outs.

Legal/coordination: preregistration must comply with existing state law on voter eligibility and preregistration age; schools likely must coordinate with election officials.

Potential impact on voter engagement: could increase youth preregistration and future turnout; exact effect depends on implementation and opt‑out rates.

Procedural notes / timeline

Filed 2/24/2025 (clerk filing date 2/6/2025; first reading 2/18/2025).

Committee hearings and testimony occurred in March–April 2025; reported favorably without amendment 4/8/2025.

Placed on multiple House calendars and listed on the General State Calendar on 4/29/2025 (laid on the table subject to call). Not enacted as of last recorded action.