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HB 3401

Relating to state finance.

2025 Regular Session

HB 3401 would create a $500 per-semester scholarship for student members of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, applied to tuition, fee

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3401

HB 3401 — Relating to state finance (2025)

Status: In committee upon adjournment (as of 2025-06-28)
Introduced: February 26, 2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Norma Hernandez
Chief co‑sponsor: Rep. Michael Crawford

Purpose / Intent

HB 3401 proposes to provide modest scholarship awards to student members who serve on two Illinois higher education boards: the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College (State) Board. The intent is to financially support student representatives for the semesters during which they are enrolled and serving.

Key provisions

  • Amends:
    • Board of Higher Education Act (110 ILCS 205/5)
    • Public Community College Act (110 ILCS 805/2‑5)
  • Adds a scholarship award for student board members:
    • Amount: $500 per semester for each semester the student is enrolled and serving as a student member.
    • Payable to the institution at which the student is enrolled (institution receives the award).
    • Permitted uses: tuition and fees, books, and supplies.
  • Existing language that board members "serve without compensation" remains; reimbursement for actual and necessary travel and other expenses remains unchanged.

Who is affected

  • Directly: student members of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the student member of the Illinois Community College Board while enrolled and serving.
  • Indirectly: the institutions (colleges/universities/community colleges) that will receive and administer the scholarship funds; state budget/appropriations that must cover the scholarship payments.
  • No changes to other board members' compensation or expense reimbursement practices.

Fiscal and administrative considerations

  • The bill creates a recurring, per‑semester payment of $500 for each qualifying student member. It does not specify a funding source or appropriation mechanism.
  • If each board has one student member, the cost would be $500 per semester per board (e.g., $1,000 per academic year per member). Actual fiscal impact depends on number of qualifying student members and the duration/number of terms paid.
  • Administrative tasks: institutions will need to accept and apply the scholarship to eligible students' tuition/fees/books/supplies.

Legislative actions / timeline (selected)

  • 2025-02-07: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Hernandez
  • 2025-02-18: First reading; referred to Rules Committee
  • 2025-02-19: Chief Co‑Sponsor added (Rep. Michael Crawford)
  • 2025-02-26: Officially filed
  • 2025-03-11: Assigned to Appropriations — Higher Education Committee
  • 2025-03-21: Read first time; re‑referred to Rules; referred to subcommittee on Family & Fiduciary Relationships
  • 2025-06-28: In committee upon adjournment

Note

The bill is narrowly focused and amends two statutory sections to authorize the specified scholarship payments; it does not change other compensation or governance provisions of either board.

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

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