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HB 3037

Relating to state grants awarded by the Department of Education; and declaring an emergency.

2025 Regular Session

Allows student-athletes to play in non-school same-sport activities during the season without losing school eligibility, with principal/AD waivers and reporting.

Chapter 498, (2025 Laws): Effective date July 17, 2025.
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Bill Summary · HB 3037

Summary — HB 3037 (Right to Play Act)

Status: Introduced Feb 19, 2025; passed the Illinois House Apr 9, 2025 (3rd reading 68–39–2); arrived in the Senate Apr 10, 2025 and referred to Assignments. Chief House sponsor: Rep. Janet Yang Rohr. Chief Senate sponsor: Sen. Ram Villivalam. House Floor Amendment No. 1 (filed Apr 8, 2025) was adopted Apr 9 and inserted key waiver and reporting provisions.

Purpose / Intent

The Right to Play Act clarifies and protects a student-athlete’s ability to participate in organized, non‑school athletic activities (e.g., club teams, all‑star events) that are the same sport as a school team during the school season, without automatically losing school-team eligibility — subject to specified conditions and administrative approvals.

Key provisions

  • Definitions: Establishes terms used in the Act including “nonschool athletic activity,” “school athletic activity,” “participate,” and “season” (season includes playoff games).
  • Eligibility protection: A student who is a member of a school athletic activity may participate in a nonschool athletic activity of the same sport during the season without losing eligibility for the school athletic activity.
  • Waiver requirement (House Amendment No. 1): Participation under this protection requires a waiver granted by the student’s school principal or athletic director.
    • Waivers may also cover “all‑star team” events.
    • Each student may receive up to 2 waivers per school year.
  • Same‑day prohibition: A student may not participate in both a nonschool athletic activity and a school athletic practice or competition in the same sport on the same day.
  • Reporting: The school that grants a waiver must report the waiver to an association or other entity whose purpose includes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or providing for interscholastic athletics or competition among Illinois schools and students.

Who is affected

  • Student‑athletes enrolled in Illinois public, charter, and nonpublic schools who participate on school sports teams.
  • School administrators (principals, athletic directors) who grant waivers and must report them.
  • Non‑school teams, clubs, and event organizers (e.g., club leagues, all‑star event sponsors).
  • State or regional interscholastic athletic associations that will receive waiver reports and may adjust eligibility/tracking procedures.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Expands opportunities for student-athletes to play outside school programs while protecting school-team eligibility.
  • Creates an administrative duty for schools (waiver approvals, reporting).
  • Limits same-day double participation to reduce scheduling conflicts, fatigue, or injury risk.
  • May require interscholastic associations (e.g., IHSA or similar entities) to update tracking and enforcement practices.

Procedural notes

  • Introduced in the House and moved through Education Policy and related committees (Do Pass recommendation).
  • House Amendment No. 1 (Apr 8) added the waiver/reporting regime and was adopted before final House passage (Apr 9).
  • Currently at the Senate (Arrived Apr 10, 2025; referred to Assignments).

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

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