HB2968

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TRANSFER REFORM-VARIOUS

What this bill does

Amends Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act. Defines "transfer articulation agreement". Sets forth the purpose of the Act. Provides that a State university shall (rather than the General Assembly encourages State universities) to facilitate the seamless transfer of credits toward a baccalaureate degree. Provides that a State university shall enter into a transfer articulation agreement with the community college district to provide a seamless pathway for transfer. Provides that if, within 180 calendar days of the community college's initial request to enter into a transfer articulation agreement with the State university, the community college and State university do not reach agreement on the transfer articulation agreement, then the community college and State university shall jointly implement the provisions of the Model Transfer Articulation Agreement. Provides that a Model Transfer Articulation Agreement shall be developed through a Transfer Articulation Committee by December 31, 2025. Requires each community college and State university to publish the institution's process and timeline for reviewing and making decisions regarding transfer credit requests on the institution's website. Removes language regarding the Board of Higher Education's reviews and reports. Provides instead that, by May 1, 2026, and May 1 of each subsequent year, each State university shall report to the Board of Higher Education specified information. Effective immediately.

Sponsor: Terra Costa Howard Chamber: House Introduced: 2025-02-06
Stuck
P(Advance)
14.3%
Chance it ever reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
0.5%
Chance it becomes law given where it is now (stage, momentum).
Forecast
0.7%
Low P(law) at intro — sponsor & topic only; no progress or delay.
Confidence: 86%

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: Floor Vote · Last action 363 days ago · STAGNANT

How does a bill become law in Illinois?
  1. 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.

  2. Committee Work — Hearings

    The bill goes to the appropriate committee, which holds hearings to gather expert opinions and determine the need for the legislation.

  3. Committee Work — Markup, Amendments, Report

    The committee may make amendments to the bill. If approved, a committee report endorsing the bill is issued.

  4. Floor Debate

    The bill is debated and can be further amended. The debate transcripts are accessible online for public viewing.

  5. 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.

  6. 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

Witness slips

7 slips filed. Proponent / opponent / no position as filed with the committee.

Name Organization Representing Position Hearing committee Hearing date
David Lockman Akil Abree Consultinf Akil Abree Consulting Proponent Higher Education 2025-03-12
Dr Cornel Darden Jr Darden and Associates Prairie State College Proponent Higher Education 2025-03-12
Dr Cornel Darden Jr Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce Proponent Higher Education 2025-03-12
Katie Anselment Eastern Illinois University Eastern Illinois University Proponent Higher Education 2025-03-12
Liz Brown Liz Brown Reeves Consulting Illinois Community College Presidents' Council Proponent Higher Education 2025-03-12
Matt Berry Illinois Community College Board Illinois Community College Board Proponent Higher Education 2025-03-12
Zach Messersmith Western Illinois University Western Illinois University Proponent Higher Education 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 Higher Education 12 0 0 0 Passed 12

Action History

10 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-04-11 — Rule 19(a) / Re-referred toRules Committee. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2025-02-06 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Terra Costa Howard 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.
2025-02-21 Co-Sponsorship Mild +
Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Katie Stuart Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a)
Chief co-sponsor added.
2025-03-04 Committee Assignment
Assigned toHigher Education 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.
2025-03-12 Committee Action Positive
Do Pass / Short DebateHigher Education 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.
2025-03-13 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.
2025-04-11 Deadlines & Re-referrals Mild −
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred toRules Committee House Rule 19(a); Senate analog: Rule 3-9(a)
MISSED COMMITTEE DEADLINE — bill did not get a committee vote before the deadline and is re-referred to Rules/Assignments. The bill is NOT dead but faces an uphill battle to be reassigned. Most bills that hit Rule 19(a) do not advance.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2025-02-06 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Terra Costa Howard 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
2025-02-21 House Added Chief Co-SponsorRep. Katie Stuart Senate Rule 5-1(a); House Rule 37(a) Co-Sponsorship Mild +
2025-03-04 House Assigned toHigher Education Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment
2025-03-12 House Do Pass / Short DebateHigher Education Committee; 012-000-000 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
2025-04-11 House Rule 19(a) / Re-referred toRules Committee House Rule 19(a); Senate analog: Rule 3-9(a) Deadlines & Re-referrals Mild −