HB2997 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)
SCH CD-ARAB AMERICAN HISTORY
Last Action
6/02/2025 - Senate: Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
House Sponsors
Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid - Emanuel "Chris" Welch - Diane Blair-Sherlock - Nabeela Syed - Justin Slaughter, Lisa Davis, Michael Crawford, Sonya M. Harper, Marcus C. Evans, Jr., Laura Faver Dias, Lilian Jiménez, Maurice A. West, II, Maura Hirschauer, Robert "Bob" Rita, Norma Hernandez, Anne Stava and Thaddeus Jones
Senate Sponsors
(Sen. Mike Porfirio - Bill Cunningham - Willie Preston - Graciela Guzmán - Ram Villivalam, Adriane Johnson and Karina Villa)
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
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.
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:
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 |