Illinois House and Senate approve Hirschauer's e-learning bill for election days

State Rep. Maura Hirschauer’s bill, which permits school boards to use certified e-learning programs for remote instruction while schools function as polling sites, passed while also preserving all current e-learning guidelines, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

The House passed the bill with 72 Democrats and 9 Republicans supporting it, while 25 Republicans opposed.

In the Senate, 38 Democrats and 5 Republicans voted yes, with 10 Republicans voting no.

Hirschauer submitted the legislation in the Illinois House on Jan. 22, 2026, during the 104th session.

The measure, designated HB4535, was approved on May 30, 2026, as part of the 104th general assembly session.

The Illinois General Assembly’s website states: "Amends the School Code. Allows the school board of a school district to use an adopted and verified program for e-learning days district-wide that permits student instruction to be received electronically while students are not physically present on an election day because a school was selected to be a polling place (rather than adopt a research-based program for e-learning days district-wide that shall permit student instruction to be received electronically while students are not physically present because a school was selected to be a polling place). Provides that e-learning days used for this purpose may not be counted in lieu of the district's scheduled emergency days."

This overview, based on the actual bill text, clarifies the bill’s terms.

This legislation allows a school district to use its implemented and annually vetted e-learning program for remote learning on election days when a school is designated as a polling location. It clarifies that these e-learning days related to elections cannot substitute for the district’s scheduled emergency days. The bill maintains prior e-learning program requirements, ensuring student access and support services, while creating this new option.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (Democrat-46th District), Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (Democrat-17th District), Rep. Joyce Mason (Democrat-61st District), and nine others.

Legislation in Illinois navigates a multi-step legislative process, which begins with introduction in either chamber, followed by committee consideration, floor debates, voting in both the House and Senate, and finally submission to the governor for signature or veto. Operating on a biennial cycle, the General Assembly sees thousands of bills each session, though only a limited number ultimately become law.

Additional information on bills and state measures can be found here.

Hirschauer holds a BA from Colby College.

A Democrat, Hirschauer won election to the Illinois State House in 2021, succeeding Karina Villa in representing the 49th District.

Legislators labeled as "Not Voting" were present but abstained, while those noted as "Excused Absence" were not present and provided accepted formal excuses.