SB1231
View on ILGASCH ED-SPECIAL ED FACILITIES
What this bill does
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows the school district to initiate an impartial due process hearing within 14 (rather than 5) days of any written parent request for an independent educational evaluation to show that its evaluation is appropriate. Requires an independent educational evaluation at public expense to be completed within 60 school days (rather than 30 days) of a parent's written request unless the school district initiates an impartial due process hearing or the parent or school district offers reasonable grounds to show that such time period should be extended. Provides that if the due process hearing decision indicates that the parent is entitled to an independent educational evaluation, it must be completed within 60 school days (rather than 30 days) of the decision unless the parent or the school district offers reasonable grounds to show that such period should be extended.
PASSED INTO LAW
Calculating prediction drivers...
Pipeline Progress
Current stage: Signed into Law · Last action 237 days ago
How does a bill become law in Illinois?
-
Introduction of Bill
A member of the Senate or the House introduces a bill, which is assigned a unique identifying number (e.g., "H.B. ___" for House bills and "S.B. ___" for Senate bills). If not enacted, it must be reintroduced in the next General Assembly with a new number.
-
Committee Work — Hearings
The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.
-
Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report
The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.
-
Floor Debate
The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.
-
Passage and Consideration in Second Chamber
If the bill passes in the first chamber, it moves to the second chamber for a similar review process. If both chambers approve, it goes to the governor.
-
Gubernatorial Action
The governor can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action (resulting in an automatic law after 60 days). The type of veto can be total or amendatory. Once signed, the bill becomes a Public Act and is assigned a Public Act number.
Sponsor Context
Meg Loughran Cappel
Moderate Influence (#11)
Bridges legislative blocs (high betweenness)
Bills sponsored by Meg Loughran Cappel advance 5% more often than the chamber average.
Public Engagement
24 witness slips filed
17 proponents / 7 opponents
13 organizations
Witness slips
24 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.
| Name | Organization | Representing | Position | Hearing committee | Hearing date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Turner | Illinois Federation of Teachers | IFT | Proponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-30 |
| Michael Stevens | Illinois Association of School Boards | IASB | Proponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-30 |
| Shannon Miller Bellini | SMB Consulting | Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education | Proponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-30 |
| David Schwartz | Self | Self | Proponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-23 |
| Kelly Turner | Illinois Federation of Teachers | IFT | Proponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-23 |
| Shannon Miller Bellini | SMB Consulting | Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education | Proponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-23 |
| Bobby Johnson | Illinois Association of School Boards | Illinois Association of School Boards | Proponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| Bonnie Jordan | Philip J Rock Center and School | self | Proponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| Cynthia Riseman Lund | Illinois Federation of Teachers | Illinois Federation of Teachers | Proponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| David Schwartz | Self | Self | Proponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| Shannon Miller Bellini | SMB Consulting | Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education | Proponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| Cheryl Jansen | Equip for Equality | Equip for Equality | Opponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-30 |
| Cheryl Jansen | Equip for Equality | Equip for Equality | Opponent | Education Policy | 2025-04-23 |
| Barb Cohen | Legal Council for Health Justice | Legal Council for Health Justice | Opponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| Cheryl Jansen | Equip for Equality | Equip for Equality | Opponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| Kyle Hillman | National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter | National Association of Social Workers - Illinois Chapter | Opponent | Education | 2025-02-18 |
| Anne Bowers | Woodridge School District 68 | self | Proponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
| Bonnie Jordan | Philip J. Rock Center and School | self | Proponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
| Cynthia Riseman Lund | Illinois Federation of Teachers | Illinois Federation of Teachers | Proponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
| Melissa Taylor | IAASE | self | Proponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
| Phil Milsk | Law Offices of Phil Milsk | Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) | Proponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
| Shannon Miller Bellini | SMB Consulting | Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education | Proponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
| Cheryl Jansen | Equip for Equality | Equip for Equality | Opponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
| Marsha Byas | East Side Intermediate | Indivdual, member of Illinois Education Association | Opponent | Education | 2025-03-18 |
Roll-call votes
Total votes and outcome per event. Deciding vote = margin of 1; those voters on the winning side could have changed the outcome by flipping.
| Date | Chamber | Type | Description | Yea | Nay | Present | NV | Outcome | Margin | Deciding voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | Committee | Education Policy | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Passed | 12 | — | |
| 2025-05-22 | H | Floor | Third Reading | 115 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Passed | 115 | — |
| S | Committee | Education | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Passed | 13 | — | |
| S | Floor | Third Reading | 56 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Passed | 56 | — |
Action History
31 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-08-15 — Public Act . . . . . . . . .104-0368. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.
2025-01-24
Introduction & Filing
Filed with Secretary bySen. Meg Loughran Cappel Rule 2-7(b)
Bill officially submitted to the Senate Secretary during the session.
2025-01-24
Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-01-24
Committee Assignment
Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-02-04
Committee Assignment
Assigned toEducation Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.
2025-02-19
Committee Action
Positive
Do PassEducation; 013-000-000 Rule 3-11(a)(1), Rule 3-12(a)
Committee recommends passage. The most important positive gate — majority of bills never get here.
2025-02-19
Floor Process
Positive
Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 20, 2025 Rule 3-12(a), Rule 4-4(7)
Bill placed on the order of Second Reading.
2025-03-05
Amendment Actions
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary bySen. Meg Loughran Cappel
[Amendment] Bill officially submitted to the Senate Secretary during the session.
2025-03-05
Amendment Actions
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred toAssignments
[Amendment] Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-03-12
Amendment Actions
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers toEducation
[Amendment] Senate Assignments Committee forwards the bill to a substantive committee.
2025-03-18
Floor Process
Positive
Second Reading Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)
Bill reaches the floor amendment stage. Floor amendments can be offered here.
2025-03-18
Floor Process
Positive
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 19, 2025 Rule 4-4(8)
Bill placed on the Third Reading calendar — queued for final vote.
2025-03-19
Amendment Actions
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do AdoptEducation; 014-000-000
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-03
Floor Process
Recalled to Second Reading Rule 5-4(a)
Bill pulled back from Third Reading to Second Reading, usually to adopt a floor amendment. Common and not negative — sponsors often recall bills to incorporate negotiated changes.
2025-04-03
Amendment Actions
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Loughran-Cappel
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-03
Floor Process
Positive
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading Rule 4-4(8)
Bill placed on the Third Reading calendar — queued for final vote.
2025-04-09
Floor Vote
Positive
Third Reading - Passed;056-000-000 Rule 5-1(f)
Bill PASSED a floor vote on Third Reading. Major milestone — bill has cleared one chamber.
2025-04-09
Cross-Chamber
Positive
Arrived in House Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
Senate bill arrives in the House after passing the Senate.
2025-04-14
Cross-Chamber
Positive
Chief House SponsorRep. Maura Hirschauer Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
House sponsor assigned for a Senate bill — bill is being actively managed in the second chamber.
2025-04-17
Introduction & Filing
First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38
Formal introduction — title read into the official record. Required procedural step; bill now exists in the system.
2025-04-17
Committee Assignment
Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a)
Sent to a committee (usually Rules in the House, Assignments in the Senate). The gatekeeping step — Rules/Assignments decides which substantive committee hears the bill.
2025-04-17
Committee Assignment
Assigned toEducation Policy Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b)
Sent to a substantive committee (e.g., Transportation, Revenue). This is where the bill gets a real hearing and evaluation.
2025-04-30
Committee Action
Positive
Do Pass / Short DebateEducation Policy Committee; 012-000-000 Senate Rule 3-11(a)(1); House Rule 22(a)(1), 52(b)
Committee recommends passage and places it on the Short Debate calendar (limited floor discussion time). Strong positive signal — committee believes bill has broad support.
2025-04-30
Floor Process
Positive
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52
Bill placed on the Second Reading calendar. Positive — bill is queued for floor action.
2025-05-13
Floor Process
Positive
Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1)
Bill reaches the floor amendment stage on Short Debate calendar. Major milestone — bill has passed committee and is on the floor.
2025-05-13
Floor Process
Positive
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8)
Bill placed on the Third Reading calendar — queued for final vote.
2025-05-22
Floor Vote
Positive
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed115-000-000 Senate Rule 5-1(f)/7-1/7-2; House Rule 37(f)/49/50
Bill PASSED on Short Debate Third Reading. Bill cleared the chamber.
2025-05-22
Concurrence
Positive
Passed Both Houses Rule 8-1, Rule 8-4
Bill PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS. Major milestone — bill goes to the Governor next.
2025-06-20
Governor Action
Positive
Sent to the Governor Senate Article IX/Rules 9-1 to 9-6; House Article IX/Rules 77-82
Bill transmitted to the Governor for signature. Strong positive — bill has passed both chambers.
2025-08-15
Governor Action
Positive
Governor Approved Senate Article IX/Rules 9-1 to 9-6; House Article IX/Rules 77-82
GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL. Bill is now law (pending effective date).
2025-08-15
Enacted Into Law
Law
Effective Date January 1, 2026 Article IX
Law's effective date announced. Most IL laws take effect January 1 of the next year unless otherwise specified.
2025-08-15
Enacted Into Law
Law
Public Act . . . . . . . . .104-0368 Article IX
Bill signed into law — assigned a Public Act number (e.g., PA 104-0032).
All actions (table)
| Date | Chamber | Action | Category | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-24 | Senate | Filed with Secretary bySen. Meg Loughran Cappel Rule 2-7(b) | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-01-24 | Senate | First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-01-24 | Senate | Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-02-04 | Senate | Assigned toEducation Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | Do PassEducation; 013-000-000 Rule 3-11(a)(1), Rule 3-12(a) | Committee Action | Positive |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 20, 2025 Rule 3-12(a), Rule 4-4(7) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-03-05 | Senate | Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary bySen. Meg Loughran Cappel | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-03-05 | Senate | Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred toAssignments | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-03-12 | Senate | Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers toEducation | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-03-18 | Senate | Second Reading Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-03-18 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 19, 2025 Rule 4-4(8) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-03-19 | Senate | Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do AdoptEducation; 014-000-000 | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-04-03 | Senate | Recalled to Second Reading Rule 5-4(a) | Floor Process | — |
| 2025-04-03 | Senate | Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Loughran-Cappel | Amendment Actions | — |
| 2025-04-03 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading Rule 4-4(8) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-04-09 | Senate | Third Reading - Passed;056-000-000 Rule 5-1(f) | Floor Vote | Positive |
| 2025-04-09 | House | Arrived in House Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) | Cross-Chamber | Positive |
| 2025-04-14 | House | Chief House SponsorRep. Maura Hirschauer Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) | Cross-Chamber | Positive |
| 2025-04-17 | House | First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-04-17 | House | Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-04-17 | House | Assigned toEducation Policy Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-04-30 | House | Do Pass / Short DebateEducation Policy Committee; 012-000-000 Senate Rule 3-11(a)(1); House Rule 22(a)(1), 52(b) | Committee Action | Positive |
| 2025-04-30 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52 | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-05-13 | House | Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 3-12(a)/5-4(a); House Rule 24(a)/40(b)/52(a)(1) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-05-13 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-05-22 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed115-000-000 Senate Rule 5-1(f)/7-1/7-2; House Rule 37(f)/49/50 | Floor Vote | Positive |
| 2025-05-22 | Senate | Passed Both Houses Rule 8-1, Rule 8-4 | Concurrence | Positive |
| 2025-06-20 | Senate | Sent to the Governor Senate Article IX/Rules 9-1 to 9-6; House Article IX/Rules 77-82 | Governor Action | Positive |
| 2025-08-15 | Senate | Governor Approved Senate Article IX/Rules 9-1 to 9-6; House Article IX/Rules 77-82 | Governor Action | Positive |
| 2025-08-15 | Senate | Effective Date January 1, 2026 Article IX | Enacted Into Law | Law |
| 2025-08-15 | Senate | Public Act . . . . . . . . .104-0368 Article IX | Enacted Into Law | Law |