ARCH. DEGREE RECLASSIFICATION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jay Hoffman and 2 co-sponsors

Illinois urges reversing a federal reclassification of architecture graduate degrees from professional to non-professional to protect licensure, funding, and access.

Resolution Adopted 075-028-000

Summary of Bill HR0678 (104th Illinois General Assembly)

Purpose and intent

The resolution expresses strong opposition to a federal reclassification by the U.S. Department of Education under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that reclassified architecture graduate degrees from “professional” to “non-professional.”

It calls for the Illinois General Assembly to urge the U.S. Department of Education to reverse this reclassification, arguing that architecture meets criteria for a professional degree and that the change undermines the profession, public safety, and accessibility of architectural education.

Key provisions and changes

Core request: A formal statement urging reversal of the federal reclassification of architecture graduate degrees.

Emphasis on defining architecture as a professional degree: The resolution reiterates that architecture requires extensive professional education, supervised experience, and licensure examinations, aligning with the Higher Education Act’s concept of professional degrees.

No direct state-law changes: The bill does not enact new Illinois statutes or regulatory changes; it is a House Resolution directing action and signaling policy position.

Who or what would be affected

Affects the relationship between federal education classifications and the architectural profession in Illinois by advocating for maintaining professional status for architecture degrees.

Practically, the resolution targets federal policy with potential downstream implications for funding, loan eligibility, and access to graduate education for aspiring architects in Illinois.

Impacted parties include:

Architecture students and graduates in Illinois who rely on federal loan programs and the perceived professional status of their degrees.
Licensed architects and the broader construction, design, and public safety sectors that rely on a robust, diverse pipeline of qualified architects.
Educational institutions offering architecture programs in Illinois.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Filed February 18, 2026; referred to the Rules Committee, then moved to the Higher Education Committee, and subsequently placed on the Calendar.

Actions within committee and floor process:

02/19/2026: Referred to Rules Committee
02/18/2026: Filed by Rep. Joyce Mason
04/07/2026: Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jay Hoffman
04/27/2026: Assigned to Higher Education Committee; recommended be adopted by committee vote (007-003-000)
05/06/2026: Recommends Be Adopted in Higher Education Committee
05/07/2026: Placed on Calendar Order of Resolutions for consideration

The resolution, if adopted, would express the will of the Illinois House and prompt continued advocacy toward federal policy reversal; it does not itself change federal policy or implement state-level education funding changes.

Notable considerations

The bill frames the reclassification as a threat to public health, safety, and welfare due to potential impacts on the architecture profession, education access, and market costs for design and construction.

It highlights potential adverse effects on middle- and low-income students, citing reduced federal loan eligibility for architecture graduate programs starting July 2026.

The resolution asserts Illinois should oppose the reclassification to preserve the integrity and diversity of the architectural workforce.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language brief for public-facing audiences or compare this resolution to similar actions in other states.