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HB5037 • 2026
FIXING HIGHER ED FUNDING ACT
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
FIXING HIGHER ED FUNDING ACT
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tony M. McCombie
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Severin
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anthony DeLuca
Assigned to Higher Education Committee
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Paul Jacobs
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jeff Keicher
FIXING HIGHER ED FUNDING ACT
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5037 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein. Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet. The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website. NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window. 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Full Text of HB5037 Home Legislation Full Text HB5037 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Printer Friendly Version Introduced Open PDF 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB5037 Introduced 2/10/2026, by Rep. Jeff Keicher SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act Creates the Fixing Illinois Higher Education Funding Act. Requires the Board of Higher Education to study the cost drivers of State universities and develop a comprehensive, 10-year plan to ensure the long-term performance and sustainability of higher education in the State that ensures funding supports education outcomes, assesses the affordability of higher education for students, and supports long-term economic and workforce development goals. Sets forth factors to be studied. Requires the Board to issue a report based on the findings of the study to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than March 31, 2027. Effective immediately. LRB104 16718 LNS 30124 b A BILL FOR HB5037 LRB104 16718 LNS 30124 b 1 AN ACT concerning education. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Fixing 5 Illinois Higher Education Funding Act. 6 Section 5. Findings and intent. 7 (a) The General Assembly finds that higher education in 8 this State has faced dropping enrollment and is facing an 9 enrollment cliff with declining birth rates, waning public 10 confidence in bachelor's degrees, and artificial intelligence 11 rapidly reshaping the entry-level job market for college 12 graduates and that despite serving fewer students, State 13 universities are spending more per student than other states 14 in the country, while in-state tuition continues to increase. 15 (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that: 16 (1) funding for State universities align with the 17 needs of their students and toward programs that will 18 prepare students for long-term success in the labor 19 market, now and in the future; 20 (2) tuition and fees be affordable for in-state 21 students and competitive for students from outside the 22 State; and 23 (3) higher education funding be made transparent to HB5037 - 2 - LRB104 16718 LNS 30124 b 1 taxpayers and higher education be held accountable for how 2 those funds are spent. 3 Section 10. Study and report. The Board of Higher 4 Education shall study the cost drivers of State universities 5 and develop a comprehensive, 10-year plan to ensure the 6 long-term performance and sustainability of higher education 7 in this State that ensures funding supports education 8 outcomes, assesses the affordability of higher education for 9 students, and supports long-term economic and workforce 10 development goals. 11 Section 15. Factors to be studied. In conducting the study 12 required under Section 5, the Board of Higher Education shall 13 consider, without limitation: 14 (1) how public funds are spent by each State 15 university, providing amounts and percentages spent on 16 categories that include, but are not limited to, 17 instruction, research, and administration; 18 (2) the historical changes in this State's population 19 of high school graduates and its relation to higher 20 education spending; 21 (3) the historical changes of the price of tuition and 22 fees for higher education in this State compared to that 23 of other states; 24 (4) the amount of funding provided to State HB5037 - 3 - LRB104 16718 LNS 30124 b 1 universities compared to the number of students enrolled, 2 including historical trends; 3 (5) the extent to which State university programs of 4 study and their funding allocation are aligned with the 5 needs of the current and future market; 6 (6) the extent to which each State university is 7 overfunded or underfunded based on the number of students 8 enrolled compared to other State universities; 9 (7) the extent to which programs are comparatively 10 overfunded or underfunded based on their alignment with 11 the current and future marketplace; and 12 (8) the extent to which specialization could attract 13 more students from within this State and outside this 14 State and mitigate the competition for students between 15 State universities. 16 Section 20. Comprehensive report. The Board of Higher 17 Education shall issue a report based on the findings of the 18 study as set forth in Sections 10 and 15, which shall include a 19 10-year plan to increase the affordability of higher education 20 for students in this State, attract students from other 21 states, and align funding to student enrollment, workforce 22 preparation, and the future needs of the labor market. The 23 Board of Higher Education shall submit its report to the 24 Governor and the General Assembly no later than March 31, 25 2027. HB5037 - 4 - LRB104 16718 LNS 30124 b 1 Section 90. Repealer. This Act is repealed on March 31, 2 2028. 3 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 4 becoming law. Footer Disclaimer This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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