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HB 3353

Relating to the impacts of wildfire on water quality.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Court Boice and 1 co-sponsor

Requires Illinois school boards to adopt a written policy detailing how schools track and meet students' medical and religious dietary needs.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 3353

Summary — HB 3353 (104th General Assembly)

Title: SCH CD‑DIETARY ACCOMMODATIONS
Sponsor: Rep. Terra Costa Howard
Introduced: 2025 session (filed Feb 25, 2025)
Statutory additions: 105 ILCS 5/10‑20.88 and 105 ILCS 5/34‑18.88 (new)

Purpose / Intent

HB 3353 requires each Illinois school board to adopt a written policy that explains how schools will track, meet, and adhere to:
- students’ medical dietary requirements (e.g., food allergies, diabetes‑related needs, medically prescribed diets); and
- legally required accommodations for students’ religious dietary needs (e.g., kosher, halal, vegetarian/vegan practices observed for religious reasons).

The stated intent is to ensure consistent district-level procedures for recognizing, documenting, and implementing dietary accommodations in schools.

Key provisions

  • Adds two new sections to the School Code (10‑20.88 and 34‑18.88) that mandate a school board policy addressing students’ dietary requirements and needs.
  • The bill text is brief and prescriptive only in requiring that a policy be adopted; it does not specify the exact elements a policy must contain (e.g., formats, timelines, or enforcement mechanisms).

Likely practical elements (not specified in text)

Because the bill itself does not list operational details, typical components districts may include when complying:
- processes for documenting medical/religious dietary needs and consent;
- communication protocols with parents/guardians, food service staff, and school nurses;
- procedures for meal substitutions, food procurement, and menu planning;
- staff training and confidentiality safeguards;
- emergency response procedures for allergic reactions;
- recordkeeping and periodic review.

Who would be affected

  • Students with medical or religious dietary needs and their families;
  • Local school districts and school boards (required to adopt a policy);
  • School food service staff, nurses, classroom staff, and administrators (implementation responsibilities);
  • Potentially vendors and food suppliers if menu adjustments or substitutions are required.

Procedural status and timeline

  • First reading: 02/18/2025; filed 02/25/2025.
  • Referred to Rules Committee; assigned to Education Policy Committee (03/11/2025).
  • Public hearings and committee substitute proceedings in April 2025; reported favorably as substituted (04/09/2025).
  • Committee report sent to Calendars (04/22/2025).
  • Current status: Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee.
  • Companion bill: SB 2823.

Fiscal/administrative considerations

  • The bill includes a State Mandates notice indicating the act may require reimbursement, suggesting potential fiscal implications for districts (training, administrative workload, meal costs). Exact costs are not specified in the bill text.

Note: HB 3353 sets a requirement to adopt policies but leaves substantive implementation details to local boards unless further legislative or administrative guidance is provided.

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

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