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HB5491 • 2026
EDUC-QLFD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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.
EDUC-QLFD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5491 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience.
Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2026
Second Reading
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Harmon
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 19, 2026
Approved for Consideration Assignments
Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 14, 2026
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Don Harmon
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive
Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Executive ; 009-004-000
Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Don Harmon
Arrive in Senate
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva
First Reading
Referred to Assignments
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 104-000-000
Second Reading - Short Debate
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee ; 011-000-000
Assigned to Higher Education Committee
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Katie Stuart
EDUC-QLFD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5491 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 HB5491 Home Legislation Full Text HB5491 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Senate Amendment 001 Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Senate Amendment 001 Open PDF HB5491 Engrossed LRB104 20667 LNS 34165 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 5. The Workforce Development through Charitable 5 Loan Repayment Act is amended by changing Section 10-10 as 6 follows: 7 (110 ILCS 998/10-10) 8 Sec. 10-10. Definitions. As used in this Act: 9 "Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance 10 Commission. 11 "Full-time employee" means an individual who is employed 12 for consideration for at least 35 hours each week. 13 "Program" means the Workforce Development Through 14 Charitable Loan Repayment Program established under this Act. 15 "Qualified community foundation" has the meaning given to 16 that term in Section 170-5 of the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act 17 means a community foundation or similar publicly supported 18 organization described in Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the 19 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that (i) is organized or 20 operating in this State, (ii) substantially complies, as 21 determined by the Commission, with the national standards for 22 United States community foundations established by the 23 Community Foundations National Standards or a successor HB5491 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 20667 LNS 34165 b 1 entity, and (iii) is approved by the Commission for 2 participation in the Program as provided in Section 10-17 . 3 "Qualified worker" means an individual who meets all of 4 the following: 5 (1) the individual is a full-time employee of a 6 business that meets one or more of the following: 7 (A) the business is a qualified new business 8 venture that is registered with the Department of 9 Commerce and Economic Opportunity under Section 220 of 10 the Illinois Income Tax Act; 11 (B) the business is primarily engaged in a 12 targeted growth industry; 13 (C) the business is a minority-owned business, a 14 women-owned business, or a business owned by a person 15 with a disability, as those terms are defined in the 16 Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons 17 with Disabilities Act; or 18 (D) the business is a not-for-profit corporation, 19 as defined in the General Not For Profit Corporation 20 Act of 1986; 21 (2) the individual is employed by the business 22 described in paragraph (1) at a job site that is located in 23 an Enterprise Zone, an Opportunity Zone, an underserved 24 area, or an area that has a bachelor's degree attainment 25 rate for the population that is below the State or 26 national average for the population, as determined by the HB5491 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 20667 LNS 34165 b 1 United States Census Bureau; and 2 (3) the individual (i) received an associate degree or 3 higher and has an outstanding balance due on a qualified 4 education loan, as defined in Section 221 of the Internal 5 Revenue Code, or (ii) accrued educational debt while 6 pursuing skilled trades and related schooling. 7 "Student loan repayment assistance" means grants or 8 post-graduation scholarships made by a community foundation 9 directly to a student loan servicer on behalf of a qualified 10 worker. 11 "Targeted growth industry" means one or more of the 12 following: 13 (1) advanced manufacturing; 14 (2) agribusiness and food processing; 15 (3) transportation distribution and logistics; 16 (4) life sciences and biotechnology; 17 (5) business and professional services; or 18 (6) energy. 19 "Underserved area" has the meaning given to that term in 20 Section 5-5 of the Economic Development for a Growing Economy 21 Tax Credit Act. 22 (Source: P.A. 103-592, eff. 6-7-24.) 23 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 24 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. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. Read About Cookies ILGA.GOV 2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved | ADA | Disclaimers | Learn 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. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. Read About Cookies ILGA.GOV 2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved | ADA | Disclaimers | Learn