WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 2995

Fueling Modern Life

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Anders and 2 co-sponsors

HB 2995 requires schools to promptly notify students and guardians about alleged sexual misconduct, provide resources, and formalize investigations and handling of past adverse det

To House Energy and Public Works
#environment
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2995

HB 2995 — "Fueling Modern Life" (School Code amendments)

Status: Introduced to the Illinois House; referred to House Energy and Public Works
Introduced: February 2025 (Rep. Michelle Mussman; cosponsors: Anders, Bridges; primary sponsor: Dillon)
Related bill: SB 1325 (companion)

Purpose / Intent

HB 2995 amends the Illinois School Code to strengthen notification, investigation, and personnel-record handling practices when an employee, agent, or contractor of a school is alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct. The bill aims to (1) require clearer, developmentally appropriate notification to students and written notice to parents/guardians, (2) extend certain notification and resource requirements to the accused employee/agent/contractor (and their bargaining representative), and (3) require school governing bodies to adopt formal investigation procedures and specify how past adverse determinations may be treated in personnel files.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 22-85.10 (Parental notification) and Section 22-94, and adds new Section 22-85.15 to the School Code (105 ILCS 5/22-85.10; 22-85.15 new; 22-94).
  • Notification sequence and content:
    • Students must be notified first, in a developmentally appropriate manner, that parents/guardians will be informed and what information/resources will be provided.
    • Parents/guardians must be notified in writing as soon as feasible after the school becomes aware of alleged misconduct, subject to DCFS or law-enforcement coordination (per Section 22-85(f)).
    • Notices must include the alleged misconduct and available school and community resources (per Article 26A and Section 3-550 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code).
    • Beginning July 1, 2025, notices must also provide the name and contact information of the domestic and sexual violence and parenting resource coordinator (Section 26A-35).
  • Notification to the accused:
    • The same information given to parents/guardians must be contemporaneously provided to the employee, agent, or contractor alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct and to their exclusive bargaining representative, if applicable.
  • Governing-body action:
    • The governing body must implement procedures to notify parents/guardians when formal employment action (e.g., termination or acceptance of resignation) is taken following an investigation.
    • Notices must state whether a report was or will be submitted to the State Superintendent or regional superintendent under Section 10‑21.9.
    • If the student is no longer enrolled, sending notice to the last known address satisfies the requirement.
  • Investigations and prior adverse determinations:
    • Governing bodies must implement investigation procedures for allegations against employees, agents, or contractors (new Section 22‑85.15).
    • Adverse determinations issued for events that occurred prior to the effective date are not automatically void. They may be considered null and void only if regulatory third‑party investigations found the allegation false, unfounded, indeterminable, or unsubstantiated, or a previous finding was overturned/expunged on appeal.
    • When an adverse determination is deemed null/void under those conditions, the adverse determination and related documents must be removed from personnel records within 14 business days after written notice.

Who is affected

  • Public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools (their governing bodies and administrators).
  • Students (including students with disabilities — notices must not conflict with IEPs or Section 504 protections) and their parents/guardians.
  • School employees, agents, and contractors who are alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct, and their bargaining representatives.
  • State/regional education offices, DCFS, and law enforcement where coordinated investigations are required.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Includes an explicit July 1, 2025 effective reference for including the domestic/sexual violence coordinator contact in notices.
  • Requires timely notifications (“as soon as feasible”) but defers to DCFS/law-enforcement timing when those entities are involved.
  • Bill status: introduced and assigned to committees (various procedural referrals listed); currently to House Energy and Public Works.

If enacted, HB 2995 would formalize notification and investigative responsibilities for schools and add specific protections and timing requirements for both students and accused school-affiliated individuals, while setting conditions for modification/removal of earlier personnel records tied to past adverse determinations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.