Bill

SB 1884

PERSONNEL-NO BACH DEGREE REQ

104th Regular Session Introduced by Harry Benton and 6 co-sponsors

SB 1884 reduces the use of bachelor's degrees for state hiring, allows experience to count as a degree, expanding who can apply unless a degree is truly required.

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0397

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Bill Summary · SB 1884

SB 1884 — Summary (Public Act 104‑0397)

Status: Enacted as Public Act 104‑0397
Effective date: August 15, 2025
Statutory citation added: 20 ILCS 415/8b.21 (Illinois Personnel Code)

Purpose / Intent

SB 1884 revises State hiring rules to reduce reliance on a baccalaureate (college) degree as a mandatory condition of hire for State jobs and to promote consideration of equivalent work experience. The intent is to broaden the applicant pool and encourage skills‑based hiring across State government positions under the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) jurisdiction.

Key provisions

Adds Section 8b.21 to the Personnel Code (20 ILCS 415):
- Agencies may not require a baccalaureate degree as a condition of eligibility for hire to a State position, except where a degree is necessary as described below.
- Exception: the prohibition does not apply when the appointing authority determines that the knowledge, skills, or abilities required for the position can only reasonably be obtained through a course of study culminating in a baccalaureate or advanced degree.
- The law also authorizes (and, in some versions of the enacted text, explicitly states) that CMS may consider relevant work experience to be equivalent to a college degree when appropriate.
Existing posting and hiring transparency requirements for Jurisdiction B positions remain (vacancies posted publicly on CMS website, weekly updates, and continued posting when vacancy rate ≥ 10%).

Who is affected

State agencies and hiring officials under CMS Jurisdiction B (merit‑system positions).
Job applicants for State employment — particularly those without college degrees but with relevant work experience.
Human resources units that will need to update job announcements, qualification criteria, and hiring practices to comply.

Practical effect and considerations

Likely increases use of experience‑based qualification standards and may expand applicant pools for many State jobs.
Grants appointing authorities discretion to require degrees where the duties legitimately demand formal academic preparation, which could result in case‑by‑case determinations and the need for documentation of such determinations.
Positions that statutorily require licensure, certification, or registration (or that otherwise legally require a degree) remain subject to those requirements.
Agencies will need to revise job descriptions, minimum qualifications, and internal hiring policies; training and guidance from CMS may be necessary to ensure consistent application.

Legislative history (highlights)

Introduced: March 4, 2025 (Sen. Steve Stadelman)
Passed both chambers: May 31, 2025
Sent to Governor: June 27, 2025
Governor approved / Public Act: August 15, 2025 (P.A. 104‑0397)

Companion bill: HB 3627

If you want, I can draft plain‑language model guidance for hiring managers to implement the new rules or extract the exact statutory text for posting and personnel policy updates.

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