Bill
SB 2485
The bill would cover the remaining cost of attendance for eligible Illinois public college students in developmental coursework for up to 132 semester credits, reducing financial b
Status: Introduced Feb 7, 2025; ultimately died in committee.
Summary
SB 2485 would create the "Developmental Promise Program" within the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to reduce financial barriers for Illinois residents enrolled in developmental education coursework. Beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, participating public institutions would cover a qualifying student’s remaining cost of attendance (after other private, State, and federal aid) for up to the first 132 semester credits (198 quarter credits) while the student is enrolled in the Program. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and each institution would adopt rules and policies to administer the Program.
Key provisions and definitions
- Eligible institutions: public community colleges and public universities in Illinois (private institutions are not included).
- “Qualifying student” requirements:
- Illinois resident accepted for enrollment at an eligible institution;
- Enrolled in developmental education coursework (remediation in English or math);
- Aged 17 or older but under 27 at time of receiving assistance;
- Household family income of $90,000 or less at time of enrollment in developmental coursework.
- Benefit: For the first 132 semester credit hours / 198 quarter hours while enrolled in the Program, the institution must provide financial assistance equal to the student’s remaining cost of attendance after accounting for any private, State, or federal financial aid.
- Student responsibilities:
- Complete the FAFSA or request institutional financial assistance per school policy;
- Maintain satisfactory academic standing and make progress toward program completion.
- Administration: ISAC to adopt necessary rules; each institution to adopt program policies and procedures.
Potential impacts
- Intended benefits: Lower financial barriers for young, lower- and middle-income students placed into developmental coursework; support persistence and credential completion.
- Fiscal effects: Could impose new costs on public colleges and universities (or require state appropriations) to cover the “remaining balance” of cost of attendance; bill text does not specify a funding source or appropriations mechanism.
- Scope limits: Age cap (under 27), income cap ($90,000), and restriction to public institutions narrow the beneficiary pool.
- Operational requirements: Institutions must implement eligibility, tracking, and satisfactory-progress policies; ISAC rulemaking required.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced Feb 7, 2025 (Sen. Ram Villivalam originally; chief sponsorship later assigned to Sen. Graciela Guzmán with Villivalam as cosponsor).
- Target effective implementation date in bill: beginning of the 2026–2027 academic year.
- Final legislative status: did not advance (died in committee). No appropriation or enacted statute resulted from this bill as introduced.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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