Bill
HB 3055
Expands access to state and local higher-ed aid by prohibiting denial of scholarships or grants to qualified noncitizens, removing citizenship-based eligibility barriers.
Purpose and intent
- Expand access to higher education financial aid by ensuring noncitizen students who qualify for any grant or scholarship under the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, or under any other State law or local government program, cannot be denied the award solely because of their noncitizen status.
- The change is designed to remove a citizenship-based barrier to state and local financial aid programs for eligible students.
Key provisions
- New section added: 110 ILCS 947/68 (Noncitizen eligibility).
- Core rule: Notwithstanding any other law, a scholarship or grant offered under the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, any other State law, or by a unit of local government shall not be denied to a student solely due to the student’s status as a noncitizen, provided the student otherwise qualifies.
- Definition of “noncitizen” for purposes of this section:
- A qualified alien (as defined by 8 U.S.C. §1641);
- A nonimmigrant under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (INA);
- An alien paroled into the United States under 8 C.F.R. §212.5 or 8 U.S.C. §1182(d)(5) for less than one year.
- Effective date: Immediate upon becoming law.
Who is affected
- Illinois students who are noncitizens but otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for grants or scholarships administered by the state, or by local government entities, under the Higher Education Student Assistance Act or related programs.
- Postsecondary institutions and administering agencies that award such financial aid would be expected to apply these noncitizen eligibility protections.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Introduced: February 6, 2025 (Rep. Barbara Hernandez).
- Cosponsor: Rep. Norma Hernandez (added March 13, 2025).
- Legislative path: Referred to Rules Committee, then to Higher Education Committee; later assigned to Rules Committee; status as of the latest update is Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee.
- Current status: Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee.
- Section 99 indicates the act takes effect when law.
Potential impact
- Removes a barrier to aid for noncitizen students who meet merit or other criteria for existing grants and scholarships.
- Aligns state policy with inclusive access objectives, potentially increasing college affordability for eligible immigrant communities.
- No explicit funding increase is specified; the measure focuses on eligibility rules rather than program budgets.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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