SB1231
SCH ED-SPECIAL ED FACILITIES
PASSED INTO LAW
Calculating prediction drivers...
Pipeline Progress
Filed
In Committee
Passed Committee
Floor Vote
Crossed Chambers
Passed Both
Signed
Current stage: Signed into Law · Last action 189 days ago
How does a bill become law in Illinois?
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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.
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Committee Work — Hearings
The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.
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Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report
The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.
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Floor Debate
The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.
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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.
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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 (#8)
Bridges legislative blocs (high betweenness)
Bills they sponsor outperform predictions (positive pull)
Bills sponsored by Meg Loughran Cappel advance 11% more often than the chamber average.
Public Engagement
24 witness slips filed
17 proponents / 7 opponents
13 organizations
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 |