HB2997 - 104th General Assembly

SCH CD-ARAB AMERICAN HISTORY
Last Action
6/02/2025 - Senate: Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
105 ILCS 5/27-23.19 new
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in the State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education may prepare and make available to all school boards instructional materials, including those established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that may be used as guidelines for the development of the unit of instruction. Provides that each school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction. Provides that the regional superintendent of schools shall monitor a school district's compliance with the curricular requirements during the regional superintendent's annual compliance visit. Provides that a school may meet the requirements through an online program or course. Effective immediately.
Fiscal Note (State Board of Education)
This change would have a fiscal impact on the Illinois State Board of Education, with estimated costs of $8,764 for implemation. While there may also be increased costs to school districts, regional offices of education, and public schools, those amounts are currently unknown. The State Board of Education recommends that sponsors consult with relevant stakeholders to better understand the potential costs to districts.

House Floor Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
105 ILCS 5/27-23.19 new
Adds reference to:
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in this State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Effective immediately.
Actions
Date Chamber Action
2/06/2025 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
2/06/2025 House First Reading
2/06/2025 House Referred to Rules Committee
3/04/2025 House Assigned to Education Policy Committee
3/07/2025 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
3/20/2025 House Do Pass / Short Debate Education Policy Committee; 009-004-000
3/21/2025 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
3/25/2025 House Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Amy Elik
3/25/2025 House State Mandates Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Amy Elik
3/26/2025 House Second Reading - Short Debate
3/26/2025 House Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
4/01/2025 House Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
4/01/2025 House Fiscal Note Filed
4/08/2025 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
4/08/2025 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
4/08/2025 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Education Policy Committee
4/09/2025 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Education Policy Committee; 009-004-000
4/10/2025 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
4/10/2025 House Note / Motion Filed - Note Act Does Not Apply Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
4/10/2025 House Motion Prevailed 070-038-000
4/10/2025 House State Mandates Fiscal Note Request is Inapplicable
4/10/2025 House Fiscal Note Request is Inapplicable
4/10/2025 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
4/10/2025 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed
4/10/2025 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
4/10/2025 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
4/10/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava
4/10/2025 House Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 067-035-000
4/14/2025 Senate Arrive in Senate
4/14/2025 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
4/14/2025 Senate Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham
4/14/2025 Senate First Reading
4/14/2025 Senate Referred to Assignments
4/30/2025 Senate Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Mike Porfirio
4/30/2025 Senate Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham
4/30/2025 Senate Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Willie Preston
4/30/2025 Senate Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
5/01/2025 Senate Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán
5/01/2025 Senate Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
5/14/2025 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones
5/22/2025 Senate Assigned to Education
5/22/2025 Senate Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025
5/23/2025 Senate Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025
6/02/2025 Senate Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
10/15/2025 Senate Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam