Public schools; require school boards to adopt policy on bell-to-bell cell phone prohibition.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Parker

Allocates $5,000,000 from General Revenue to Illinois DHS to fund statewide 211 information/referral services, boosting access to health and human services for residents.

Died In Committee

#education

Bill Summary — SB 2624 (104th General Assembly, 2025–2026)

Title (provided): Public schools; require school boards to adopt policy on bell-to-bell cell phone prohibition
Actual bill text: Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Department of Human Services for Statewide 211
Status: Died in committee (per provided status)
Introduced: March 2025 (introduced by Sen. Doris Turner)
Effective date (if enacted): July 1, 2025

Important note: The bill title and the stated subject (school cell-phone policy) do not match the bill text included in the legislative document. The official text of SB 2624, as introduced, is an appropriation to the Department of Human Services for statewide 211 services. This summary describes the actual text provided.

Purpose / Intent

The bill would provide funding to support statewide 211 services in Illinois. 211 is a non-emergency information and referral service that connects callers to health and human services (e.g., housing, food, mental health, disaster assistance). The appropriation aims to strengthen or expand those services.

Key provisions

Appropriates $5,000,000 (or so much as may be necessary) from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS).

The appropriation is designated for "Statewide 211."

Effective date clause: the Act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

There are no provisions in the provided text regarding school policies, cell phones, or school boards.

Who/what would be affected

Department of Human Services: recipient and administrator of the appropriation for statewide 211 operations.

211 network operators and local community-based partners: potential recipients of funding or increased contract support to expand or maintain services.

Residents of Illinois: potential beneficiaries through improved access to information and referral services for health and social support.

State budget/General Revenue Fund: a $5,000,000 appropriation would be charged to the General Revenue Fund.

Legislative history & procedural notes

Introduced in early March 2025 by Sen. Doris Turner (with multiple co-sponsors added in March–April 2025).

First reading and committee referrals occurred in March 2025; public hearing and testimony were recorded April 8, 2025, and the measure was left pending in committee after the hearing.

The provided status indicates the bill died in committee. If enacted, the effective date would be July 1, 2025.

Sponsors (listed in document): Sen. Doris Turner (primary) and co-sponsors including Laura Fine, Mary Edly-Allen, Julie A. Morrison, Lakesia Collins, Sara Feigenholtz, Michael W. Halpin, Paul Faraci, Steve Stadelman, Karina Villa, and Adriane Johnson.

If you want, I can:
- Verify the official legislative text and status on the Illinois General Assembly website to resolve the title/text discrepancy, or
- Draft a short note explaining this discrepancy suitable for publication.

Bill