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HB2976

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SCH CD-STUDENT ABSENCE-PARENT

What this bill does

Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Allows a child to be absent from a public school on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day to attend the ceremonial induction into office of the child's parent or legal guardian, anyone in the child's household, the child's grandparents, siblings, or a close friend of the child as a newly elected government official. Provides that the student and parent or legal guardian are responsible for obtaining assignments from the student's teacher prior to the period of excused absence and for ensuring that such assignments are completed by the student prior to the student's return to school from that period of excused absence.

Sponsor: Nicholas K. Smith Chamber: House Introduced: 2025-02-06
Stuck
P(Advance)
31.6%
Chance it ever reaches a milestone (committee, floor, etc.). Not “next step.”
P(Law)
12.9%
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: 68%

Calculating prediction drivers...

Pipeline Progress

Current stage: Crossed Chambers · Last action 344 days ago

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

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

Name Organization Representing Position Hearing committee Hearing date
Annette Hightower Annette Hightower Proponent Education Policy 2025-03-12
Justin Mahwikizi The American Institute Of Action The American Institute Of Action Proponent Education Policy 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 Education Policy 12 0 0 1 Passed 12 —
H Floor Third Reading 75 36 0 7 Passed 39 —

Action History

26 actions recorded. Last action: 2025-04-30 — Referred toAssignments. Each action's meaning and outcome signal are classified automatically.

2025-02-06 Introduction & Filing
Filed with the Clerk byRep. Curtis J. Tarver, II 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 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.
2025-03-12 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.
2025-03-12 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.
2025-03-26 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk byRep. Curtis J. Tarver, II
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-03-26 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred toRules Committee
[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.
2025-03-26 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.
2025-03-26 Floor Process
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52
Bill was ready for Second Reading but was paused/held by the sponsor. Usually indicates the sponsor is still negotiating amendments or gathering votes. NOT a negative signal — the sponsor controls the pace.
2025-04-07 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers toEducation Policy Committee
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-08 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk byRep. Curtis J. Tarver, II
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-08 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred toRules Committee
[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.
2025-04-08 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers toEducation Policy Committee
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-09 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be AdoptedEducation Policy Committee; 013-000-000
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-09 Amendment Actions
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be AdoptedEducation Policy Committee; 013-000-000
[Amendment] Amendment sub-action.
2025-04-10 Cross-Chamber
Chief Sponsor Changed toRep. Nicholas K. Smith 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 Amendment Actions Positive
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
[Amendment] Bill or resolution adopted by the chamber.
2025-04-10 Amendment Actions Positive
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
[Amendment] Bill or resolution adopted by the chamber.
2025-04-10 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 Floor Vote Positive
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed075-036-000 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 April 29, 2025 Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54
Bill queued for First Reading in the second chamber.
2025-04-30 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.
2025-04-30 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.
2025-04-30 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.

All actions (table)

Date Chamber Action Category Signal
2025-02-06 House Filed with the Clerk byRep. Curtis J. Tarver, II 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 toEducation Policy Committee Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(b) Committee Assignment —
2025-03-12 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
2025-03-12 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
2025-03-26 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk byRep. Curtis J. Tarver, II Amendment Actions —
2025-03-26 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred toRules Committee Amendment Actions —
2025-03-26 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
2025-03-26 House Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate Senate Rule 4-4(7-8)/5-2; House Rule 31(8-9)/38/52 Floor Process —
2025-04-07 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers toEducation Policy Committee Amendment Actions —
2025-04-08 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk byRep. Curtis J. Tarver, II Amendment Actions —
2025-04-08 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred toRules Committee Amendment Actions —
2025-04-08 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers toEducation Policy Committee Amendment Actions —
2025-04-09 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be AdoptedEducation Policy Committee; 013-000-000 Amendment Actions —
2025-04-09 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be AdoptedEducation Policy Committee; 013-000-000 Amendment Actions —
2025-04-10 House Chief Sponsor Changed toRep. Nicholas K. Smith Senate Rule 5-1(d)/4-4(9-11); House Rule 37(d)/31(10-12) Cross-Chamber —
2025-04-10 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted Amendment Actions Positive
2025-04-10 House House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted Amendment Actions Positive
2025-04-10 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate Rule 4-4(8) Floor Process Positive
2025-04-10 House Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed075-036-000 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 April 29, 2025 Senate Rule 4-4/7-4; House Rule 31/54 Procedural —
2025-04-30 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
2025-04-30 Senate First Reading Senate Rule 5-1(d)/5-2; House Rule 37(d)/38 Introduction & Filing —
2025-04-30 Senate Referred toAssignments Senate Rule 3-8(a); House Rule 18(a) Committee Assignment —