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HB 2981

Relating to aquatic invasive species; declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Gamba and 4 co-sponsors

The bill requires transparent, statewide reporting on student transfers and school capacity, including audited transfer data and denial reasons.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2981

HB 2981 — Summary (Education reporting on student transfers and school capacity)

Note on title discrepancy
- The official bill title in the header references "aquatic invasive species; declaring an emergency." The text and amendments contained in HB 2981 concern the Illinois School Code and reporting of student transfers and capacity. This summary reflects the substantive provisions in the bill text.

Basic information

  • Bill number: HB 2981
  • Sponsor: Rep. William "Will" Davis
  • Introduced: Feb 6, 2025 (filed with Clerk Feb 6; other records show Feb 18, 2025)
  • Status: In committee upon adjournment (as of 2025-06-28)
  • Primary statutory changes: amends 105 ILCS 5/10-17a (School Code); adds 105 ILCS 5/10-21.3b; adds 30 ILCS 805/8.49 (State Mandates Act)

Purpose / intent

To increase transparency and statewide reporting about student transfers between and within school districts, and to publish audited information on transfer approvals and denials so families and policymakers can see capacity and transfer decisions.

Key provisions

  • School report cards: Requires each school report card to include, at minimum:

    • Total student capacity for each school.
    • Number of student transfers enrolled at each receiving school.
    • Number of transfer requests received.
    • Number of transfer requests denied and the reasons for denial.

  • Superintendent reporting: On or before the first day of each semester, the superintendent of the receiving school district must file with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) the total number of students granted transfers into or within the receiving district, including the receiving school sites and grade levels.

  • ISBE annual public report: ISBE must publish an annual public report (available on its website) on or before July 1 that includes for each school district:

    1. Number of students in the school year seeking admission to transfer to or within the district.
    2. Number of rejected transfer requests in the school year.
    3. The reason(s) each rejected transfer request was denied.
    4. Total number of students transferred into or within the district.

  • Audits: Each year ISBE will randomly select 20 school districts for an audit of approved and denied transfers to verify compliance with district transfer policies.

  • State Mandates Act: The bill adds a provision that no state reimbursement is required for any mandate created by this amendatory Act (i.e., local districts would not receive mandated-cost reimbursement from the State).

Who is affected

  • School districts and charter districts (superintendents and district data/reporting offices): new semester and annual reporting and potential audit exposure.
  • Illinois State Board of Education: required to collect semester filings, produce the statewide annual report by July 1, and conduct random audits of 20 districts annually.
  • Students and families: increased transparency about school capacity and transfer outcomes; potential for clearer explanations when transfer requests are denied.
  • Local budgets: additional administrative workload; the bill states the State is not required to reimburse districts for costs of compliance.

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Superintendent filings: on or before the first day of each semester.
  • ISBE annual report: on or before July 1 each year.
  • Audits: 20 districts randomly selected annually.
  • Current legislative status: read and referred to multiple committees; recommended “do pass with amendments” by one committee and referred to Ways & Means on 2025-04-15; in committee upon adjournment as of 2025-06-28.

Potential impacts & considerations

  • Improves transparency around transfer volume, capacity, and denial reasons — useful for oversight and policymaking.
  • Adds recurring administrative/reporting duties for districts and ISBE; fiscal impact borne locally per the State Mandates Act amendment.
  • Data publication must be managed to protect student privacy and comply with FERPA and related laws.
  • Audits may prompt districts to review and standardize transfer policies and recordkeeping.

If you want, I can extract the exact proposed statutory language (sections added/changed) or produce a one-page factsheet for district administrators summarizing new reporting steps and deadlines.

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

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