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2025 Regular Session Introduced by Ryan Browning and 10 co-sponsors

HB 3116 requires UI Board to prioritize Illinois residents for undergrad admissions, reaching at least 90% resident freshmen by 2029–30, with transfer fee‑waiver info disclosure.

Markup Discussion

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Purpose

HB 3116 amends Section 8 (Admissions) of the University of Illinois Act to (1) require the Board of Trustees to give admission priority to Illinois residents and (2) set phased minimum percentages of the University’s freshman undergraduate class that must be state residents. The bill also includes related admissions provisions already in the statute (coursework prerequisites, veteran admissions option) and requires the University to provide transfer application fee-waiver information.

Key provisions

Residency priority (new, effective for specified academic years):

2026–2027: at least 79% of the freshman undergraduate class must be Illinois residents.
2027–2028: at least 82.5% must be Illinois residents.
2028–2029: at least 86.5% must be Illinois residents.
2029–2030 and thereafter: at least 90% must be Illinois residents.
The Board of Trustees “shall give priority admission” to state residents to meet these percentages.

Transfer application fee-waiver information (beginning 2025–2026): the University must provide Illinois community college transfer students with the University’s undergraduate transfer admissions application fee waiver policy (and any forms) and post the policy prominently on its website; the University is encouraged to develop an automatic waiver policy for low-income community college students.

Retained/adopted admissions requirements: the bill keeps existing statutory language requiring incoming students to complete at least 15 high‑school units across five categories (English, social studies, mathematics, science, and electives) and related waiver/alternative-path provisions (e.g., ACT/SAT acceptance, veteran admission timing).

Effective date: the Act takes effect upon becoming law.

Who is affected

Prospective freshman applicants to the University of Illinois (Illinois residents, out‑of‑state, and international applicants).

Community college transfer students in Illinois (information and potential access to application fee waivers).

University administration and the Board of Trustees (must implement residency-priority admission processes and post fee-waiver policies).

Potentially state finances and University enrollment mix (see considerations).

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced Feb. 2025; referred to Rules and Higher Education committees; public hearing (3/19/25) and work session (4/7/25) held.

On 4/10/25 the bill was recommended “do pass with amendments” and referred to Ways and Means; as of 6/28/25 it is “in committee upon adjournment.”

If enacted, residency priority phases in beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year; transfer fee-waiver disclosure begins in 2025–2026.

Considerations / potential impacts

Increasing the in‑state share of freshmen to 90% could reduce out‑of‑state and international admissions and associated tuition revenue, affecting University finances and campus diversity.

Implementation will require updated admissions policies, data tracking, and possibly changes to recruitment practices.

The statutory mandate to “give priority” and to meet specific percentage targets may raise operational and legal questions for the Board and admissions offices if demand patterns change.

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