Bill
HB 2651
The bill would provide annual statewide, non-binding guidance listing culturally or religiously significant dates to help districts avoid major events that many students may miss.
Status snapshot
- Introduced: February 6, 2025 (Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl)
- Passed both chambers: February–April 2025 (see legislative actions)
- Transmitted to Governor: April 30, 2025
- Vetoed by Governor: May 6, 2025
- House amendment (House Amendment 001) filed March 28, 2025 (substantive changes to timing, definitions, and distribution language)
- Multiple co‑sponsors added during 2025
Purpose / intent
- To provide statewide guidance helping school districts avoid scheduling major school events on days when portions of the student body may be absent or unable to participate because of cultural, religious, or other observances.
Key provisions
- Definition: “Major school event” (per House Amendment 001) means a school‑sanctioned or sponsored event that is part of the locally created school calendar and includes events or activities that would be difficult for a student to make up (tests, special projects, extracurricular events, etc.).
- State Board duty: The State Board of Education, after consulting stakeholders, must identify dates each year that are of cultural or religious significance to the student population and on which students may have out‑of‑school commitments or be unable to participate in major events.
- Timing and posting:
- As amended, by July 1 each year the State Board must prominently post on its website and distribute a non‑exhaustive list of identified days/dates for the upcoming school year (the school year that begins in the next calendar year).
- Earlier draft/versions used a February 1 deadline; the House amendment moved the deadline to July 1 and clarified scope.
- Content and guidance:
- The list is expressly non‑exhaustive and intended as scheduling guidance; it does not alter a student’s statutory right to be excused for religious observance (cites Section 26‑2b of the School Code).
- School districts may add additional days/dates to local calendars based on community feedback or demographics.
- Distribution: The State Board must distribute the list to school districts and further to relevant education entities. Earlier drafts named specific recipients (regional offices of education, Department of Early Childhood, Board of Higher Education, Illinois High School Association); the amendment broadens this to “relevant associations or entities as determined by the State Board.”
- Effective date: The Act takes effect upon becoming law.
Who is affected
- State Board of Education: new annual responsibility to compile, post, and distribute the list.
- School districts and schools: receive guidance to inform scheduling of tests, special events, extracurriculars and may add local observances.
- Students and families: intended benefit is fewer conflicts between major school events and cultural/religious observances; existing statutory excusal rights are preserved.
- Regional education offices and related associations: recipients of the guidance and participants in outreach/implementation.
Practical impact and considerations
- Non‑binding guidance: The list is advisory — it encourages mindful scheduling but does not prohibit districts from scheduling events on listed dates.
- Administrative workload: minimal ongoing state administrative duty to research, consult stakeholders, compile and distribute an annual list; local districts may incur minor effort if they choose to adjust calendars.
- Equity/inclusion implications: intended to reduce inadvertent exclusion of students who observe cultural or religious holidays.
- Current legal status: vetoed by the Governor on May 6, 2025; not law unless the veto is overridden or the bill is reintroduced and enacted.
Amendments and evolution
- House Amendment 001 refines the definition of “major school event,” changes the annual posting deadline from February 1 to July 1, frames the list as guidance for the next school year, and broadens distribution language to “relevant associations or entities.” Earlier versions required distribution to named agencies and had a February 1 deadline.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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