Dupage Policy Journal

Terra Costa Howard introduced HB2827 in the Illinois House on Feb. 5, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Creates the Homeschool Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or to the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend. Provides that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration Form is considered truant, with penalties applying. Provides that if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption. Sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements. Makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, designated as the Homeschool Act, establishes regulations for homeschooling in Illinois, requiring parents who choose to homeschool to submit a notification form with specific information about the student and the homeschool administrator to the regional office of education. The form submission should occur annually before Sept. 1 or within three business days if homeschooling begins mid-year. The bill outlines the creation of educational portfolios documenting homeschool activities, which can be requested during truancy investigations. The bill requires homeschool administrators to either hold a high school diploma or be enrolled in higher education and restricts those with certain criminal convictions from serving as administrators. It addresses the intersection of homeschool and public school resources and mandates reporting homeschooling statistics to state authorities. The bill includes protections against the dissemination of homeschool student information under the Freedom of Information Act and sets an effective date of June 1, 2026, for the notification form’s availability.

Terra Costa Howard has proposed another 18 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Howard graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1993 with a BA and again in 1996 from DePaul University with a JD.

Terra Costa Howard is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 42nd House District. She replaced previous state representative Amy L. Grant in 2023.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB2827	02/05/2025	Creates the Homeschool Act. Requires the State Board of Education to create a Homeschool Declaration Form to be used by a homeschool administrator to submit information indicating that a child is enrolled in a homeschool program to the principal of the public school or to the school district that the homeschooled child would otherwise attend. Provides that a student enrolled in a homeschool program in which the homeschool administrator has not notified the public school or school district with the Homeschool Declaration Form is considered truant, with penalties applying. Provides that if a child in a homeschool program seeks to enroll part time in a public school or participate in any public school activities taking place on or off of school grounds, the homeschool administrator must submit proof that the child has received all required immunizations and health examinations or a signed Certificate of Religious Exemption. Sets forth requirements for homeschool administrators and programs and reporting requirements. Makes conforming and other changes in the Freedom of Information Act, the School Code, and the Illinois School Student Records Act, including requiring (rather than allowing) nonpublic schools to register with the State Board of Education.
HB2881	02/05/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, as used in the Act, the term "commercial purpose" means, among other things, the use of any part of a public record or records, or information derived from public records, in any form for any use or purpose that furthers the commercial, trade, or profit interests of the requester or the person on whose behalf the request is made.
HB2882	02/05/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that each public body shall, promptly, either comply with or deny a request for public records within 15 business days (rather than 5 business days) after its receipt of the request, unless extended for an additional 10 business days (rather than 5 business days) for specified reasons. Provides that commercial requests must be responded to within 30 business days (rather than 21 working days).
HB2883	02/05/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides the each public body shall post a brief description of itself and other specified information on its website (rather than at each of its administrative or regional offices). Provides that, if a public body does not maintain a website, it shall also post that information at each of its administrative or regional offices.
HB2884	02/05/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that, if the denial of a request includes a request for minutes or a verbatim record of a meeting of the public body closed to the public as provided in the Open Meetings Act that have not been previously made available for public inspection, suit may be filed under a specified provision only after a 60-day period following (i) the receipt of the request by the public body or (ii) the issuance of a binding or non-binding opinion from the Public Access Counselor, whichever is later, to allow for review of the requested records as provided under the Open Meetings Act.
HB2885	02/05/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that a public body and any officer or employee of a public body (rather than only a public body) that discloses records in accordance with an opinion of the Attorney General is immune from all liabilities by reason thereof and shall not be liable for penalties under the Act.
HB2886	02/05/2025	Amends the Open Meetings Act. Allows attendance by a means other than physical presence under certain circumstances if a member of a public body is prevented from physically attending because of any reason designated in rules adopted by the public body in accordance with certain provisions in the Act.
HB2887	02/05/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Reduces the number of record requests that must be made for a person to be considered a recurrent requester under the Act. Provides that public bodies must respond to requests from recurrent requesters with 30 (rather than 21) days after receipt of a request. Specifies that notice that requests are being treated as recurrent requests must be provided only once every 30 days. Provides that it is a violation of the Act for persons designated as recurrent requesters to knowingly obtain a public record without disclosing their status as recurrent requesters.
HB2888	02/05/2025	Amends the Freedom of Information Act. In provisions regarding the authority to charge fees and the imposition of a fee for a voluminous request, removes requirements for an accounting of all personnel hours in connection with the request for public records.
HB2889	02/05/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Removes a provision limiting a special investigator appointed by a State's Attorney to carrying a firearm only in the performance of the special investigator's assigned duties (currently, a special investigator shall not carry firearms except with permission of the State's Attorney and only while carrying appropriate identification indicating the special investigator's employment and in the performance of the special investigator's assigned duties).
HB2890	02/05/2025	Amends the Open Meetings Act. In provisions regarding notice of changes to regular meeting dates, deletes requirements for publication in a newspaper or, in certain cases, posting in at least 3 prominent places within the governmental unit. Adds a requirement that notice of changes to regular meeting dates shall also be posted on the website of the public body.
HB2891	02/05/2025	Amends the Water Commission Act of 1985. Provides that a commission may not receive more than $10,000 per year in compensation (currently a commission may not receive more than $10,000 per year in compensation except that no commissioner who is a member of the governing board or an officer or employee of the county or any unit of local government within the county may receive any compensation for serving as a commissioner). Allows a commission to use alternate project delivery methods, establish goals or requirements for the procurement of goods and services and for construction contracts, and accept assignment of municipal waterworks system contracts or other public improvement contracts. Gives commissions the authority to enter into design-build contracts and use a design-build delivery system. Includes definitions and requirements for the design-build delivery system. Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a water commission may construct water transmission and distribution lines within a radius of 50 miles (rather than 25 miles) outside the corporate limits of member municipalities for the purpose of furnishing water to any additional entities which contract with the commission for a supply of water.
HB2892	02/05/2025	Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Authorizes a petitioner, cross-petitioner, or respondent to request a one-time substitution of a guardian ad litem that must be granted if the motion to do so was made at any time before the guardian ad litem files an appearance or at the first court appearance, whichever is later.
HB2905	02/05/2025	Amends the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act. In provisions limiting the funding amount for home-based services provided by the Department of Human Services to an adult with a mental disability, provides that, subject to appropriation for these purposes, the Department may exceed such funding limits for an adult with a mental disability whose service and support needs require a higher level of funding based on a determination of need administered by the Department or its service coordination agent. Provides that such service and support needs must be incorporated into the service plan of the adult with a mental disability and must align with criteria adopted by the Department. Permits the Department to limit the use of the funds to services and supports the adult with a mental disability requires to continue to live in the community. Permits the Department to adopt rules. Effective immediately.
HB2562	02/04/2025	Amends the Guardianship and Advocacy Act. Provides that the training program for guardians of adults with disabilities must have two components: one for guardians of the person and another for guardians of the estate. Authorizes the State Guardian to determine the content of the training. Requires the training component for guardians of the person to continue to include content on Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Requires guardians of the person and estate (now, just for guardians of the person) to complete this training within one year from the issuance of the letters of office. Exempts some guardians.
HB2563	02/04/2025	Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act. Requires a common interest association to conduct and update a reserve study every 5 years. "Reserve study" means an analysis of the reserves required for future major maintenance, repairs, and replacements of the common elements. Grants a 5-year window for an association to conduct a reserve study or update a current study. Requires a reserve study to be made available to any prospective purchaser of a unit upon request for a resale of any unit in the community. Exempts an association with 15 or fewer units but still requires the board to comply with the budgeting and reserve requirements elsewhere in the Act. Amends the Condominium Property Act to make similar changes.
HB2437	02/03/2025	Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that the court may, upon a finding of good cause, extend temporary guardianship for up to an additional 90 days beyond the 120 days now authorized in the Act.
HB2389	01/31/2025	Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that if a Firearm Owner's Identification Card is issued to a holder under 21 years of age, then that Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall expire on the holder's 21st birthday or 10 years from the date of issuance, whichever is earlier. Provides that after the holder's 21st birthday, the validity period of the holder's Firearm Owner's Identification Card shall be 10 years.
HB2342	01/30/2025	Creates the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. Provides that the Illinois Gaming Board may regulate the conduct of fantasy contest operators under the Act. Allows the Board to levy and collect fees, surcharges, civil penalties, and, on adjusted gross fantasy contest receipts imposed under the Act, monthly taxes, and identifies other powers and duties of the Board. Includes restrictions, including requiring licensing, of fantasy contest operators. Includes license requirements and requirements for allowable fantasy contests. Contains provisions relating to denial of a license, independent audits, reporting and investigation of prohibited conduct, taxes, compulsive gambling and voluntary self-exclusion, and supplier diversity goals for fantasy contest operators. Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Excludes fantasy contests from the definition of "sports wagering". Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that participants in fantasy contest wagering shall not be convicted of the offense of gambling when conducted in accordance with the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. Excludes any real estate, vehicle, boat, or any other property whatsoever used for the purposes of gambling under the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act from the definition of "gambling place" under the offense of keeping a gambling place. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Grants the Illinois Gaming Board emergency rulemaking authority to implement the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act. Effective immediately.
HB1879	01/29/2025	Appropriates $4,500,000 to the State Board of Education for grants to school districts to contract with organizations that directly provide students and school-based staff with mental telehealth services that are billed to Medicaid and commercial insurance plans. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1880	01/29/2025	Creates the Phosphorus Credit Trading Program Act. Creates the Phosphorus Credit Trading Committee for several purposes, including developing a framework for the trading of phosphorus reduction credits generated through phosphorus reductions in excess of those required by permit and limiting the trading of phosphorus reduction credits to trading among wastewater agencies. Provides that the Phosphorus Credit Trading Committee shall submit a report to the Governor, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the General Assembly. Provides for Committee membership. Provides that the Prairie Research Institute's Illinois Sustainable Technology Center shall provide technical assistance to the Committee. Provides that the Agency shall, within one year after its receipt of the Committee's report, propose rules to establish a program to facilitate phosphorus reduction credit trading among wastewater agencies, and that the Pollution Control Board shall adopt rules within one year after receipt of the Agency's proposal. Provides that the rules shall accomplish certain purposes. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
HB1895	01/29/2025	Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Defines "group home for the developmentally or intellectually disabled" and "child who resides in a group home for the developmentally or intellectually disabled". Excludes a group home for the developmentally or intellectually disabled from the definition of "child care institution". Adds a group home for the developmentally or intellectually disabled to provisions concerning child care facility requirements, including licensing standards, license applications, and transportation. Provides that no group home for the developmentally or intellectually disabled shall hire a staff member who is under 19 years of age. Effective immediately.
HB1807	01/28/2025	Amends the Nurse Practice Act. Makes changes to the requirements for a registered professional nursing education program in provisions concerning the establishment of a new program, program policies, faculty members, training and development, the program's curriculum, the program's use of simulation, the accreditation process, approval by the Board of Nursing, and the program closure process. Makes a conforming change. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may, without hearing, rescind the license of any person who obtain a license after completing a program or obtaining credit from a program that does not meet the requirements of the provisions regarding registered professional nursing education programs. In provisions concerning nursing licensure by examination, removes the provision regarding the good standing period for professional nursing programs on probationary status.
HB1832	01/28/2025	Amends the Department of Central Management Services Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions regarding the management of State buildings, grants the Department of Central Management Services the power to manage, operate, maintain, and preserve from waste real properties (rather than only real properties transferred to the Department under a specified provision). Authorizes the Department of Central Management Services to grant easements and accept easements with respect to the affected properties, on such terms and conditions that in the judgment of the Director of Central Management Services are in the best interests of the State. Removes the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago from the list of properties managed by the Department of Central Management Services. Adds 115 South LaSalle Street in Chicago to the list of properties managed by the Department of Central Management Services. Makes conforming changes.
HB1801	01/27/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, provides that property that receives an erroneous homestead exemption for the current assessment year or for any of the 3 prior assessment years may be considered omitted property. Provides for penalties and interest to be imposed on that omitted property. Provides that any arrearage of taxes or interest that might have been assessed against that omitted property shall not be chargeable to certain bona fide purchasers of the property. Effective immediately.
HB1714	01/24/2025	Amends the Guardians for Adults with Disabilities Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that a person is qualified to act as guardian of a person with a disability and as guardian of the estate of a person with a disability if, among other requirements, the court finds that the proposed guardian is capable of providing an active and suitable program of guardianship for the person with a disability and that the proposed guardian has not been found to be an unfit person, unless the court finds the appointment of the person to have previously been found unfit to be in the best interests of the person with a disability, and as part of the best interests determination, the court has considered the nature of the determination of unfitness, the date of the determination, and the evidence of the proposed guardian's determination. Effective immediately.
HB1576	01/22/2025	Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
HB0042	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Local Library Act and the Public Library District Act of 1991. Authorizes costs paid by persons residing outside of the relevant library jurisdiction to be paid quarterly or biannually if permitted by board regulations. Effective immediately.
HB1087	01/09/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that, after January 1, 2027, a school district may not procure disposable food service containers that are composed in whole or in part from polystyrene foam for use at any school and instead shall offer only compostable foodware or recyclable foodware for use at the school. Provides that, after January 1, 2028 or at the renewal of its next contract, whichever occurs later, no vendor contracted through a school district may provide a school with disposable food service containers that are composed in whole or in part from polystyrene foam at any site owned or leased by the school district and instead shall offer only compostable foodware or recyclable foodware for use at sites owned or leased by the school district.
HB1153	01/09/2025	Creates the Local Official Vacancy Posting Act. Provides that a unit of local government shall post every elected official vacancy on its website, if the full-time staff of the municipality maintain the website, and the county clerk shall also post the vacancy on the county clerk website. Provides that the unit of local government may not fill the vacancy until the posting has been on the municipality's website, or the county's website if the municipality does not have full-time staff maintaining a website, for at least 15 days. Limits home rule powers.
HB1168	01/09/2025	Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that the definition of "day care center" does not include special activities programs that are conducted by civic, charitable, and governmental organizations on an organized basis (instead of special activities programs that are conducted on an organized and periodic basis). Adds programs offered by arboretums, nature centers, and botanic gardens to the special activities programs that are excluded from the definition of "day care center".
HB1198	01/09/2025	Amends the Probate Act of 1975. Provides that if guardianship is necessary under law and the petition for guardianship is filed by a person, corporation, nonprofit organization, or other entity with no legally recognized relationship to the alleged person with a disability, the court shall appoint the State Guardian or county public guardian as the temporary and permanent guardian of the person or estate or both except in counties in which there is no sitting county public guardian.