HB2685
View on ILGAEDUC-SCHOOL LIBRARY TASK FORCE
What this bill does
Amends the School Code. Requires the Illinois State Board of Education to create the Licensed School Librarian Task Force, which shall meet a minimum of 4 times and shall submit, no later than 12 months after the first convening of the Task Force, a final report to the Governor and the General Assembly containing recommendations, including, but not limited to, recommendations for how to ensure Illinois public elementary and secondary schools consider, budget appropriate resources for, and employ licensed school librarians in future academic years from available State and local resources. Effective immediately.
Stuck
P(Advance)
Chance it ever
reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
Chance it becomes
law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Forecast
Low
P(law) at intro —
sponsor & topic only; no progress or delay.
Confidence: 85%
Calculating prediction drivers...
Pipeline Progress
Current stage: In Committee · Last action 495 days ago · STAGNANT
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
Debbie Meyers-Martin
Low Influence (#84)
Bridges legislative blocs (high betweenness)
Bills sponsored by Debbie Meyers-Martin advance 3% more often than the chamber average.
Campaign finance
This is SBE campaign receipts to the people on this bill, not Moneyball and not earmarked to the bill.
Money is campaign receipts to matched candidate committees, not earmarked to this bill. Window 2025-01-01 – 2026-09-13.
$753,488.07
Across sponsors / voters
4
Members with trails
18
Overlapping donors
Sponsor and voter funding
| Member | Role | Receipts | Total received | Top donors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debbie Meyers-Martin | Chief sponsor | 64 | $63,465.00 | Comcast ($6,000.00); Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor Management ($6,000.00); Philip Rheams ($3,000.00) |
| Katie Stuart | Sponsor | 148 | $448,010.54 | Carpentry Advancement PAC ($73,800.00); LIUNA Chicago Laborer's District Council Political Action Committee ($43,700.00); I.P.A.C.E. ($40,000.00) |
| Camille Y. Lilly | Sponsor | 86 | $95,238.00 | Health Care Council of Illinois Political Action Comm. ($10,000.00); Liuna Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC ($7,500.00); Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC ($6,500.00) |
| Rachel Ventura | Sponsor | 90 | $146,774.53 | ISDF ($50,000.00); I.P.A.C.E ($15,000.00); West Suburban Teachers Union ($9,554.53) |
Overlapping donors
Donors who gave to more than one sponsor or voter on this bill. Still not earmarked to the bill.
| Donor | Members | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee | Camille Y. Lilly, Katie Stuart | $30,000.00 |
| Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC | Camille Y. Lilly, Katie Stuart | $15,500.00 |
| SEIU Local 73 | Katie Stuart, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $8,500.00 |
| Comcast | Katie Stuart, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $8,000.00 |
| Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE | Camille Y. Lilly, Katie Stuart, Rachel Ventura | $6,500.00 |
| Realtor Political Action Committee | Camille Y. Lilly, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $5,500.00 |
| IHA Political Action Committee | Camille Y. Lilly, Katie Stuart | $4,500.00 |
| Carpentry Advancement Political Action Committee Fund | Camille Y. Lilly, Rachel Ventura | $4,500.00 |
| Teamsters Volunteers in Politics | Camille Y. Lilly, Rachel Ventura | $4,500.00 |
| PhRMA | Camille Y. Lilly, Katie Stuart, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $2,500.00 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 399 | Katie Stuart, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $2,000.00 |
| J & J Ventures Gaming LLC | Katie Stuart, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $2,000.00 |
| Clayton Residential Home, Inc. | Camille Y. Lilly, Katie Stuart | $1,890.00 |
| Smart TD PAC | Camille Y. Lilly, Katie Stuart, Rachel Ventura | $1,500.00 |
| Health Care Council of Illinois PAC | Camille Y. Lilly, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $1,250.00 |
| The Roosevelt Group | Camille Y. Lilly, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $1,000.00 |
| Cozen O'Connor | Camille Y. Lilly, Debbie Meyers-Martin | $1,000.00 |
| Electrical Contractors' Association PAC | Camille Y. Lilly, Rachel Ventura | $1,000.00 |
Top donors across these members
| Donor | Occupation | Employer | Receipts | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpentry Advancement PAC | — | — | 4 | $73,800.00 |
| ISDF | — | — | 1 | $50,000.00 |
| LIUNA Chicago Laborer's District Council Political Action Committee | — | — | 2 | $43,700.00 |
| I.P.A.C.E. | — | — | 1 | $40,000.00 |
| Illinois Laborers' Legislative Committee | — | — | 2 | $30,000.00 |
| SEIU HealthCare IL IN PAC | — | — | 3 | $28,400.00 |
| SEIU IL Council Pac Fund | — | — | 1 | $20,000.00 |
| Accel Entertainment Gaming, LLC | — | — | 4 | $15,500.00 |
| AFSCME Illinois Council #31 PAC | — | — | 1 | $15,000.00 |
| I.P.A.C.E | — | — | 2 | $15,000.00 |
| Realtor PAC | — | — | 1 | $10,000.00 |
| Health Care Council of Illinois Political Action Comm. | — | — | 1 | $10,000.00 |
| West Suburban Teachers Union | — | — | 4 | $9,554.53 |
| Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC | — | — | 2 | $9,000.00 |
| SEIU Local 73 | — | — | 2 | $8,500.00 |
| Comcast | — | — | 3 | $8,000.00 |
| Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor Management PAC | — | — | 2 | $7,500.00 |
| Downstate Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC | — | — | 1 | $7,500.00 |
| Liuna Chicago Laborers' District Council PAC | — | — | 2 | $7,500.00 |
| Michael J. Sacks | Chairman | GCM Grosvenor | 1 | $7,300.00 |
| IBEW Illinois PAC | — | — | 4 | $7,000.00 |
| Illinois Federation of Teachers COPE | — | — | 7 | $6,500.00 |
| Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC | — | — | 1 | $6,500.00 |
| Chicago Land Operators Joint Labor Management | — | — | 1 | $6,000.00 |
| Realtor Political Action Committee | — | — | 2 | $5,500.00 |
Hearings
This bill has not been scheduled for a committee hearing.
Witness slips
2 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.
| Name | Organization | Representing | Position | Hearing committee | Hearing date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Blaida | Blaida and Associates LLC | Illinois Library Association | Proponent | Elem Sec Ed: Adm., Lic. & Charter | 2025-03-12 |
| Kelly Turner | Illinois Federation of Teachers | IFT | Proponent | Elem Sec Ed: Adm., Lic. & Charter | 2025-03-12 |
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 | Elem Sec Ed: Adm., Lic. & Charter | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Passed | 9 | — | |
| H | Floor | Third Reading | 76 | 36 | 0 | 6 | Passed | 40 | — |
Action History
21 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-06-02 — Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.
2025-02-04
Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. William "Will" Davis House Rule 6(b)
Bill officially submitted to the House Clerk during the session.
2025-02-06
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.
2025-02-06
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.
2025-03-04
Committee Assignment
Assigned toElementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools 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.
2025-03-05
Co-Sponsorship
Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Katie Stuart Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-11
Co-Sponsorship
Mild +
Added Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
A legislator adds their name as co-sponsor, signaling public support for the bill.
2025-03-12
Committee Action
Positive
Do Pass / Short DebateElementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 009-000-000 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.
2025-03-13
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.
2025-03-25
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.
2025-03-25
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.
2025-04-10
Cross-Chamber
Chief Sponsor Changed toRep. Debbie Meyers-Martin Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
Chief sponsor changed — may indicate leadership taking ownership or a strategic handoff.
2025-04-10
Floor Vote
Positive
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed076-036-000 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.
2025-04-14
Cross-Chamber
Positive
Arrive in Senate Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
House bill arrives in the Senate after passing the House.
2025-04-14
Procedural
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54
Bill queued for First Reading in the second chamber.
2025-04-14
Cross-Chamber
Positive
Chief Senate SponsorSen. Rachel Ventura Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12)
Senate sponsor assigned for a House bill.
2025-04-14
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.
2025-04-14
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.
2025-04-29
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.
2025-05-09
Deadlines & Re-referrals
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4)
Senate committee deadline set or extended. Procedural — establishes when the bill must be voted out of committee.
2025-05-23
Deadlines & Re-referrals
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4)
Senate committee deadline set or extended. Procedural — establishes when the bill must be voted out of committee.
2025-06-02
Deadlines & Re-referrals
Mild −
Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments Rule 3-9(a)
Senate procedural rule — bill re-referred to Assignments for missing Rule 2-10 deadline. Bill is NOT dead but faces uphill battle.
All actions (table)
| Date | Chamber | Action | Category | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-04 | House | Filed with the Clerk byRep. William "Will" Davis House Rule 6(b) | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-02-06 | House | First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-02-06 | House | Referred toRules Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-03-04 | House | Assigned toElementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-03-05 | House | Added Co-SponsorRep. Katie Stuart Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) | Co-Sponsorship | Mild + |
| 2025-03-11 | House | Added Co-SponsorRep. Camille Y. Lilly Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) | Co-Sponsorship | Mild + |
| 2025-03-12 | House | Do Pass / Short DebateElementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 009-000-000 Senate Rule 3-11(a)(1); House Rule 22(a)(1), 52(b) | Committee Action | Positive |
| 2025-03-13 | 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 |
| 2025-03-25 | 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 |
| 2025-03-25 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8) | Floor Process | Positive |
| 2025-04-10 | House | Chief Sponsor Changed toRep. Debbie Meyers-Martin Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) | Cross-Chamber | — |
| 2025-04-10 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed076-036-000 Senate Rule 5-1(f)/7-1/7-2; House Rule 37(f)/49/50 | Floor Vote | Positive |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Arrive in Senate Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) | Cross-Chamber | Positive |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54 | Procedural | — |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Chief Senate SponsorSen. Rachel Ventura Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) | Cross-Chamber | Positive |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 | Introduction & Filing | — |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-04-29 | Senate | Assigned toEducation Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) | Committee Assignment | — |
| 2025-05-09 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4) | Deadlines & Re-referrals | — |
| 2025-05-23 | Senate | Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025 Rule 2-10(a)(3-4) | Deadlines & Re-referrals | — |
| 2025-06-02 | Senate | Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred toAssignments Rule 3-9(a) | Deadlines & Re-referrals | Mild − |