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SB 1331

Requires special elections to fill vacancies in statewide elected offices other than U.S. Senator

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rick Brattin

Creates the Illinois Scholarship Database run by ISAC to centralize and publish scholarships, with joint student/parent accounts from 7th grade to boost access.

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Bill Summary · SB 1331

SB 1331 — Scholarship Accessibility Act (Illinois) — Summary

Status (as of latest actions): introduced in early 2025, passed the Illinois Senate, received in the House, amended in committee/on the House floor (House Floor Amendment No. 1 adopted 05/31/2025), and passed the House (3/31–4/03/2025 entries). The measure has multiple sponsors and co‑sponsors and is proceeding through concurrence/administrative steps. Related companion bills: HB 2713, HB 1012, HB 1033.

Purpose

To increase Illinois students’ awareness of and access to higher‑education scholarship opportunities by creating a centralized, publicly accessible Illinois Scholarship Database administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Illinois Scholarship Database (a public website and application) to be developed, implemented, and administered by ISAC. The Database must be publicly accessible and easy to use.
  • School/Student participation:
    • Beginning in 7th grade, public schools must inform students about the Database and require creation of an account.
    • Accounts must be created jointly by the student and a parent (clearly indicating which user is student vs. parent). Accounts must not be tied to an administrative email address that the school can terminate.
    • Both student and parent may access and manage the account.
  • Student profile requirements:
    • Required to include a portfolio describing the student and the student’s current year of enrollment (part of account creation for all ages).
    • Required to list any criminal charge that subjects the student to a public registry, with exceptions (legal protections, court orders, exigent circumstances). This registry‑disclosure provision does not apply until after a student finishes high school (but does apply to students “considered to have failed high school” per the bill text).
  • Database content and posting rules:
    • The Database must include and display a comprehensive list of scholarships.
    • Scholarship providers may submit listings, subject to transparency and reasonableness rules (e.g., listings cannot obscure which institutions are eligible or impose inappropriate/absurd requirements).
    • Widely known, out‑of‑state scholarships may be displayed if accessible to Illinois students.
  • ISAC responsibilities:
    • ISAC develops and operates the Database and funds scholarship workshops and informational events to educate students and parents.
  • Adult student access:
    • Students age 18+ may create and maintain accounts without a parent and may remove a parent from an account they created before turning 18.
    • Subsection (e) profile requirements apply to adult accounts as well.
    • The Database remains accessible to users regardless of age.

Who is affected

  • Students (beginning 7th grade) in Illinois public schools and their parents — required to create/manage accounts.
  • Students 18+ — optional direct access and control.
  • Scholarship providers — may list opportunities and must meet posting transparency/reasonableness standards.
  • Illinois Student Assistance Commission — responsible for development, administration, and outreach activities.
  • Public schools — required to inform students and facilitate initial account creation.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Positive: Centralizes scholarship information, increases early awareness of financial aid, may improve application rates and college access.
  • Administrative: ISAC will incur development/operational costs and must run outreach/workshops; schools must integrate account‑creation into student processes.
  • Privacy and equity concerns: Mandatory profile data (portfolio and possible listing of registrable criminal charges) raises data privacy and juvenile‑records issues; the bill’s treatment of criminal registry disclosures and the timing (post‑high school vs. certain “failed high school” cases) could require careful legal and confidentiality safeguards.
  • Access: Requiring joint parent accounts could benefit families but may raise access issues for students without engaged parents or for privacy‑sensitive older teens.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced in the 2025 legislative session; moved through Senate and House committees, received House amendments (House Floor Amendment No. 1 adopted 05/31/2025) and passed both chambers according to the bill log. Final enactment (governor’s signature/effective date) not indicated in the provided record.

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

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