To quantify fair workman compensation rates and more equitable method of tracking/billing for various classifications within volunteer fire departments and emergency rescue personnel

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Clark and 7 co-sponsors

HB 2976 adds excused absences for attending a civic ceremony (including a parent’s inauguration) and grants one annual civic event absence for middle/high students.

To House Finance

#financeandadministration #workerscompensation

Purpose

HB 2976 expands the list of excused absences under the School Code to allow students to miss school to attend certain civic ceremonies and events — most notably the ceremonial induction into office of a newly elected government official who is a parent, guardian, household member, grandparent, sibling, or a close friend of the student. It also establishes a broader, one‑day excused absence for middle and high school students to engage in approved "civic events."

Key provisions

Amends 105 ILCS 5/26‑1 (Compulsory school age; exemptions).

Adds an excused absence specifically to permit a student to be absent to attend the ceremonial induction into office of a newly elected government official, when that official is:

the student's parent or legal guardian;
anyone in the student's household;
the student's grandparent(s) or sibling(s); or
a close friend of the student.

Requires the student and the parent/legal guardian to obtain the student's assignments from the teacher prior to the excused absence and to ensure the assignments are completed before the student's return to school.

Creates a separate subsection allowing any public middle or high school student one school‑day excused absence per school year to engage in a "civic event" (subject to State Board of Education guidelines).

The bill defines "civic event" as an event sponsored by a nonprofit organization or governmental entity open to the public and expressly includes inaugurations, artistic/cultural performances, and educational gatherings that support the sponsor’s mission. The State Board may further define the term.
School boards may require reasonable advance notice and documentation; rules/guidelines to be established.

Who is affected

Public school students (primarily middle and high school) and their families.

School districts and school administrators, who must process excused absence requests, enforce notice/documentation requirements, and accommodate make‑up work.

Teachers, in that they must provide assignments in advance of approved absences.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced in the House (Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II). House Floor Amendments 1 and 2 were filed and adopted. Chief House sponsor later changed to Rep. Nicholas K. Smith.

Passed the Illinois House on 2025‑04‑10 (vote: 75–36).

Transmitted to the Senate (arrived 2025‑04‑14); Chief Senate sponsor: Sen. Rachel Ventura.

First Senate reading and referred to Assignments (status as of latest actions).

Companion bill: SB 1484.

Potential impacts / considerations

Schools will need processes to verify eligibility/documentation, record excused absences, and ensure timely make‑up of missed work.

The one‑day civic absence is limited to public middle/high school students and subject to guidelines; the bill does not create an open‑ended allowance for excused absences beyond these limits.

Fiscal impact is likely minimal (administrative/attendance tracking), though districts may need to update policies and communications.

Bill