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HB 3805

Relating to homicide.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Darcey Edwards and 5 co-sponsors

Allows up to 5 days of excused absence for physical, mental, or behavioral health without a medical note, with makeup work and referrals after two mental health days.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3805

Bill Summary — HB 3805 (School Code — Sick Days)

Status: Enacted — Signed by the Governor 2025-06-20; effective immediately

Sponsor: Rep. Amy L. Grant

Purpose

Amend Section 26-1 of the Illinois School Code to expand and clarify short-term excused absences for students due to physical illness, mental health, or behavioral health, and to limit documentation requirements for such short absences.

Key provisions

  • Allows a child who is excused for a temporary absence for cause by the principal or teacher to be absent for up to 5 days for physical illness, mental health, or behavioral health without being required to provide a medical note.
  • Requires that students given such an excused absence be allowed the opportunity to make up any missed school work.
  • Provides that after a student uses two mental health days, the student may be referred to appropriate school support personnel.
  • Retains existing provisions regarding other exemptions from compulsory attendance (e.g., private/parochial instruction, certified disability, employment exceptions, religious observance, military honors funerals, civic events, and families of active-duty service members).
  • Clarifies that the exemptions described do not apply to a pregnant female or a mother of one or more children except where the female is unable to attend school due to a pregnancy-related complication certified by a competent physician to the county or district truant officer.

(House Floor Amendment No. 1 revised the bill text to include the mental/behavioral health language, the make-up-work requirement, and the referral-after-two-days provision.)

Who is affected

  • Students in Illinois public schools (K–12) and their parents/guardians — particularly those needing short-term absence for physical illness, mental health, or behavioral health.
  • School principals, teachers, school support personnel (counselors/social workers), attendance/truant officers, and district administrators — who will implement excusal, makeup-work policies, and referrals.
  • School record-keeping and attendance offices (possible changes to documentation practices and attendance reporting).

Procedural / timeline highlights

  • Introduced: Feb 18, 2025
  • House Floor Amendment No. 1 filed: Apr 4, 2025 (amended text)
  • Passed both chambers: May 19–21, 2025
  • Enrolled and sent to Governor: May 22, 2025
  • Signed by Governor and effective immediately: June 20, 2025

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Reduces barriers to short-term excused absences for mental/behavioral health by removing the requirement for a medical note for up to 5 days.
  • May increase short-term excused absences; districts will need clear procedures for makeup work, attendance coding, and referral pathways to school support services after multiple mental health days.
  • Truant officers’ role remains for absence exemptions that require medical certification (e.g., pregnancy complications or longer-term medical inability to attend).

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

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