Metro East Sun

Christopher Belt introduced SB2448 in the Illinois Senate on Feb. 7, 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 Public University Direct Admission Program Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer a direct admission program. Requires each public university in the direct admission program to identify and provide its grade point average standards for general admission for first time admission and for transfer students to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission by March 1 of each year. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 and each July 1 thereafter, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall use data collected from school districts to determine which students meet the standards for general admission and provide the data to the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the State Board of Education, shall develop, in consultation with the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a preselection outreach campaign to encourage qualifying State high school juniors and seniors to apply to the University of Illinois at Chicago or the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Requires the Board of Higher Education to submit a report on the direct admission program and the preselection outreach campaign to the Governor and General Assembly by August 1, 2029 and each August 1 thereafter. Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to provide access to high school student directory information and each student's email address and grade point average to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and each public institution of higher education for the purpose of informing students of educational and career opportunities."

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

In essence, the bill establishes the Public University Direct Admission Program Act, effective with the 2027-28 academic year, requiring the Illinois Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with several state educational bodies, to create and manage a direct admission program. Public universities must provide GPA standards for admission to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission by March 1 annually. Starting July 1, 2026, the commission will use school district data to identify students eligible for direct admission. The program aims to streamline the admission process for Illinois high school seniors and community college transfer students, aligning with federal privacy guidelines. Additionally, it mandates a preselection outreach campaign to encourage high school juniors and seniors to apply to the University of Illinois' Chicago and Urbana-Champaign campuses. The Board of Higher Education is tasked with reporting to the Governor and General Assembly by August 1, 2029, and annually thereafter. Amendments to the School Code require schools to provide student directory information to higher education institutions for educational and career opportunity notifications.

Christopher Belt has proposed another 24 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Belt graduated from Illinois State University in 1994 with a BS.

Christopher Belt is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 57th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator James Clayborne Jr. in 2019.

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
SB2448	02/07/2025	Creates the Public University Direct Admission Program Act. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and the State Board of Education, shall establish and administer a direct admission program. Requires each public university in the direct admission program to identify and provide its grade point average standards for general admission for first time admission and for transfer students to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission by March 1 of each year. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026 and each July 1 thereafter, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall use data collected from school districts to determine which students meet the standards for general admission and provide the data to the Board of Higher Education. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year, the Board of Higher Education, in collaboration with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the State Board of Education, shall develop, in consultation with the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a preselection outreach campaign to encourage qualifying State high school juniors and seniors to apply to the University of Illinois at Chicago or the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Requires the Board of Higher Education to submit a report on the direct admission program and the preselection outreach campaign to the Governor and General Assembly by August 1, 2029 and each August 1 thereafter. Amends the School Code. Requires a school board to provide access to high school student directory information and each student's email address and grade point average to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and each public institution of higher education for the purpose of informing students of educational and career opportunities.
SB2346	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Banking Act and the Savings Bank Act. Requires specified financial institutions to be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and agree to operate subject to 2 U.S.C. 2901 et seq. following a change in control, a purchase of substantially all assets, the assumption of substantially all liabilities of a State bank, or a merger.
SB2347	02/07/2025	Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. In provisions concerning applicants with criminal convictions, requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to consider various factors when considering whether a prior conviction is directly related to the ability of an applicant to safely perform the duties, functions, and responsibilities of the position (instead of whether a prior conviction will impair the ability of the applicant to engage in the practice). Sets forth provisions concerning written findings in an adverse decision, appeal rights, notice requirements, and criminal records not subject to disclosure by an applicant. Removes the requirement that a person who is licensed or registered to engage in any of the professions licensed or registered by the Department be of good moral character. Prohibits the Department from using a vague term in its consideration of a criminal record and decision regarding whether a criminal record is disqualifying for licensure, certification, or registration, including, but not limited to, "good moral character", "moral turpitude", or "character and fitness". Makes other changes. Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Provides that no application shall be automatically placed on hold, delayed, denied, or otherwise not processed by the Department because it was submitted by a person who is incarcerated. Provides that when determining the qualifications for a license, the Department shall include practice that is supervised by a licensee while a person is incarcerated.
SB2348	02/07/2025	Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Hair Braiding Opportunity Act. Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. Changes the short title to the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nail Technology Act of 1985 and changes corresponding references to the Act throughout the statutes. Repeals provisions concerning hair braiding licenses, and removes references to licensed hair braiding throughout the Act. Makes conforming changes. Makes changes to the membership of the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nail Technology Board. Provides that no application shall be automatically placed on hold, delayed, denied, or otherwise not processed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation because it was submitted by a person who is incarcerated. Provides that the Department shall consider practice supervised by a licensee while a person is incarcerated in determining qualifications for a license. Effective immediately.
SB2349	02/07/2025	Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that in fixing the salaries of employees, the governing board of each public institution of higher education shall pay employees an hourly rate of not less than: (1) $22 for the 2025-2026 academic year; (2) $23 for the 2026-2027 academic year; and (3) $24 for the 2027-2028 academic year. Provides that the minimum hourly rate for each academic year thereafter shall equal the minimum hourly rate for the previous academic year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous academic year. Effective immediately.
SB2481	02/07/2025	Amends the State Finance Act. Removes provisions repealing the Capital Development Board Revolving Fund. Effective immediately.
SB1854	02/06/2025	Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct or approve a training program in death and homicide investigation for the training of Department of Corrections internal security investigators. Provides that only law enforcement officers and Department of Corrections internal security investigators (rather than just law enforcement officers) who successfully complete the training program may be assigned as lead investigators in death and homicide investigations. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall develop a process for waiver applications sent by the Department of Corrections for those investigators whose prior training and experience as homicide investigators may qualify them for a waiver.
SB1855	02/06/2025	Amends the Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality shall reimburse law enforcement agencies for public safety services provided by the law enforcement agency if the law enforcement agency does not have jurisdiction over the municipality.
SB1669	02/05/2025	Amends the Landlord Tenant Act to create a pet fee (any one-time non-refundable fee paid at the beginning of a tenancy to allow a pet to remain at the property for the duration of the tenancy) and "pet rent" (any recurring non-refundable fee paid alongside rent to allow a pet to remain at the property for the duration of the tenancy). Provides that a landlord may charge a tenant either a one-time pet fee or recurring pet rent, but not both. Provides that pet fees may not exceed $500 and pet rent may not exceed $25 for small animals and $50 for large animals per pet. Provides that a landlord may not charge a pet fee or pet rent for an assistance animal consistent with the Assistance Animal Integrity Act. Provides that nothing in the Act may be construed to require a landlord to charge either a pet fee or pet rent.
SB1670	02/05/2025	Amends the Family Bereavement Leave Act. Provides that all employees shall be entitled to use a maximum of one week (5 work days) of unpaid bereavement leave to grieve the death of a covered companion animal. Provides that, in the event of the death of more than one covered companion animal in a 12-month period, an employee is entitled to up to a total of 2 weeks (10 work days) of bereavement leave during the 12-month period. Defines "companion animal". Makes conforming changes.
SB1671	02/05/2025	Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in any product liability action based on any theory or doctrine commenced or maintained against a defendant or defendants other than the manufacturer, if the product was manufactured outside the United States and is offered for sale by a seller through an online marketplace, then the seller, the online marketplace, and the high-volume third-party seller are jointly and severally liable with the manufacturer for any harm caused by the product. Defines "seller", "online marketplace", and "high-volume third-party seller" to have the same meaning as used in the Illinois Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act. Applies to causes of action accruing on or after the effective date of the Act.
SB1672	02/05/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall include in its handbook regarding dyslexia guidelines on the administration of universal screeners for a risk of reading difficulties and secondary reviews, the interpretation of data from these screeners and reviews, and the resulting appropriate intervention within a multi-tiered system of support framework. Requires the State Board to adopt any rules necessary to ensure that a student will be screened for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener. Provides that a student shall be screened: (1) if the student is enrolled in a public school in any of grades kindergarten through 3; (2) if the student is in any of grades kindergarten through 3, transfers to a new public school, and has not been screened twice previously during the school year; (3) if the student is in grade 4 or higher and the student's teacher, parent, or guardian requests that the student be screened for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener; or (4) if the student is from another state and enrolls for the first time in any of grades kindergarten through 3 in a school district in the State. Provides that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district must screen students, no less than twice each school year, in grades kindergarten through 3 for a risk of reading difficulties using a universal screener approved by the State Board. Provides for intervention. Requires a report to the State Board. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
SB1673	02/05/2025	Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, from August 6, 2025 through August 8, 2025, and from August 13, 2025 through August 15, 2025, the tax imposed under the Acts on clothing and school supplies shall be at the rate of 1.25% (instead of 6.25%). Effective immediately.
SB1674	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois State Police Law. Provides that the Illinois State Police, in cooperation with the Green Alert Task Force, shall develop as part of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory a coordinated statewide awareness program and toolkit, which shall be referred to as a Green Alert, to be used when a veteran, active service member, Illinois National Guard Member, or reservist is believed to be missing or at risk. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall complete development and deployment of the Green Alert Awareness Program and toolkit on or before July 1, 2027. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall establish a Green Alert Task Force within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act to assist the development and deployment of the Green Alert Awareness Program and toolkit. Provides that the Task Force shall monitor and review the implementation and operation of that program, including procedures, budgetary requirements, standards, and minimum requirements for the training of law enforcement personnel on how to interact appropriately and effectively with veterans or other active or retired service members that are believed to be at risk of being hurt or hurting themselves. Sets forth membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and shall provide a report on the operations of the Green Alert Program to the General Assembly and the Governor each year by June 30th. Provides that the Child Safety Coordinator shall act in the capacity of Green Alert Program Coordinator in addition to the Child Safety Coordinator's other duties. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct a training program for law enforcement personnel of local governmental agencies in the statewide coordinated Green Alert Awareness Program and toolkit. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2026, the Board shall adopt written protocols and guidelines for the handling of missing persons cases concerning veterans, active service members, Illinois National Guard Members, or reservists that are missing or believed to be at risk of being hurt or hurting themselves based upon protocols developed by the Green Alert Task Force in conjunction with the Illinois State Police.
SB1675	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Code of Military Justice. In the definition of "military offenses", updates the proper names of the listed offenses. Makes a corresponding change to a substantive provision concerning the offense of conduct unbecoming an officer. Effective immediately.
SB1676	02/05/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall be the authority for setting conditions for mandatory supervised release under specified provisions and determining whether a violation of those conditions warrant revocation of mandatory supervised release or the imposition of other sanctions. Provides that the Board shall hear by at least one member and through a panel of at least 3 members determine the conditions of mandatory supervised release, determine the time of discharge from mandatory supervised release, impose sanctions for violations of mandatory supervised release, and revoke mandatory supervised release for those sentenced under specified provisions. Provides that if a person was originally prosecuted under the provisions of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, sentenced under the provisions of the Act pursuant to the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, and convicted as an adult and committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall, no less than 120 days prior to the date that the person reaches the age of 21, send written notification to the Prisoner Review Board indicating the day upon which the committed person will achieve the age of 21. Requires the Prisoner Review Board to conduct a hearing with no less than 3 members to determine whether or not the minor shall be assigned mandatory supervised release or be transferred to the Department of Corrections prior to the minor's 21st birthday.
SB1677	02/05/2025	Amends the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article of the School Code. Provides that a teacher evaluation plan shall prohibit an evaluator from using artificial intelligence tools to perform teacher evaluation tasks.
SB1685	02/05/2025	Creates the Debt Resolution Services Act. Provides that no person shall provide or offer to provide debt resolution services without a debt resolution services license. Defines "debt resolution services" as a program or service represented, directly or by implication, to renegotiate, settle, or in any way alter the terms of payment or other terms of the debt between a consumer and one or more unsecured creditors. Sets forth requirements for a debt resolution services license. Sets forth the process for obtaining a debt resolution services license. Provides that specified persons are exempt under the Act. Provides the prerequisites and permitted practices for providing debt resolution services. Provides the requirements for a contract between a licensee and a consumer for debt resolution services. Provides that a consumer may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services at any time without any penalty. Provides that a licensee may terminate a contract to provide debt resolution services if specified conditions are satisfied. Includes provisions concerning the powers of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; prohibited activities under the Act, including prohibitions against false or misleading advertising; annual reports filed by a licensee; fees for debt resolution services; information a licensee must provide to a consumer; records a licensee is required to keep; penalties for violating the Act; and transactions entered into before the effective date of the Act. Repeals the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act. Amends various Acts to replace references to the Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act to the Debt Resolution Services Act. Effective January 9, 2026.
SB1686	02/05/2025	Amends the Environmental Justice Act. Creates the Environmental Justice Public Participation Program. Establishes purpose and definitions. Creates the Office of Environmental Justice within the Environmental Protection Agency. Sets forth the duties of the Office. Provides that the requirements of the provisions apply to specified permitting actions within areas of environmental justice concern. Requires the Office to use environmental justice notifications to contact people located in areas of environmental justice concern, elected officials, and other interested parties to notify of a proposed permit action in that particular area of environmental justice concern. Provides that if an area is not designated as an area of environmental justice concern due to an error in the Agency's application of EJ Start, a resident of that area may make a request in writing to the Agency for reconsideration of the designation upon providing the Office census data that would otherwise demonstrate the area is an area of environmental justice concern or minority population greater than twice the statewide average. Provides that if an area is designated as an area of environmental justice concern due to an error in the Agency's application of EJ Start, a resident of that area may make a request in writing to the Agency for reconsideration of the designation upon providing the Office census data that would otherwise demonstrate that the area is not an area of environmental justice concern or minority population greater than twice the statewide average. Establishes requirements to apply to permitting transactions in areas of environmental justice concern. Requires the Agency to establish a grievance procedure. Requires the Agency to provide a report to the Commission on Environmental Justice annually regarding the status of all grievances made under the provisions.
SB1687	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for one crib and one car seat for each postpartum individual covered under the policy. Provides that the postpartum individual must be covered by the insurance policy at the time of child birth and must submit a claim within 6 months after the birth. Provides that the insurer must either reimburse the postpartum individual for the purchase of an approved crib and car seat upon submission of a valid receipt or provide a car seat and crib to the postpartum individual that complies with all federal and State safety standards. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.
SB1294	01/28/2025	Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Provides that the chief procurement officer may not award a contract to a vendor if more than 10% of the services contracted, based on the cost of services, are to be performed outside of the United States.
SB0260	01/24/2025	Creates the Small Business Financing Transparency Act. Sets forth provisions concerning registration requirements for persons providing commercial financing; additional registration information; registration expiration; functions, power, and duties; subpoena power of the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation; disclosure requirements; commercial financing disclosure forms approved for use in other states; violation of disclosure requirements; notification; suspension of registrations, civil penalties, and other discipline; investigation of complaints; confidentiality; appeal and review; registration fees; cease and desist orders; injunctions; exemptions; complaint disclosure; rules; violations; limitations on liability; beginning of registration; beginning of disclosure requirements; severability; and a commercial financing database. Amends the Freedom of Information Act and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
SB0164	01/17/2025	Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the definition of "public works" includes all federal construction projects administered or controlled by a public body if the prevailing rate of wages is equal to or greater than the prevailing wage determination by the United States Secretary of Labor for the same locality for the same type of construction used to classify the federal construction project. Makes a conforming change. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB0021	01/13/2025	Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Defines "hospital worker" as any person who receives an hourly wage, directly or indirectly via a subcontractor, from a hospital licensed under the Act. In provisions concerning limitations on mandated overtime and requiring rest periods for nurses, replaces "nurse" with "hospital worker". Requires additional hospital staffing information to be reported to the Department of Public Health, including any and all staffing matrices, staffing metrics, and underlying materials used to determine the metrics. Provides that the Department shall produce an annual report based on staffing disclosures and make recommendations for minimum staffing standards for hospital workers in each hospital unit. Requires hospitals to conduct a competency validation for each hospital worker hired, as a condition of employment, within the first month of employment and at no cost to the new hire. Provides that each hospital worker's competency validation must be submitted to the Department within 2 weeks after the hospital worker's start date. Establishes ongoing verification requirements for each hospital worker, and requires hospitals to submit a list of all competent employees currently employed at the end of each calendar year. Requires the Department to maintain, and make available to the public, a registry of all competent employees, including the hospital worker's name, address, contact information, and current employer. Provides that hospital employers that fail to comply with the competency validations requirements shall receive a fine equal to 0.1% of annual revenue reported during the most recently completed fiscal year each day until the hospital complies. Sets forth provisions concerning a hospital's requirements regarding assignment despite objection forms, a resolution process under the Department for assignment despite objection for certain hospital workers, and a fine for hospitals that fail to honor the assignment despite objection process. Makes other changes.
SB0022	01/13/2025	Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law. Repeals the definition of "supplier" and related provisions in the Motor Fuel Tax Law that establish various requirements for suppliers. Repeals a provision that prohibits a person other than a licensed distributor from acting as a supplier of special fuel within the State. Changes the definitions of "distributor" and "receiver".
SB0058	01/13/2025	Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall develop a program of technical assistance in support of regional manufacturing partnerships in collaboration with employer associations representing manufacturers; secondary and postsecondary institutions, including public universities and community colleges; and workforce stakeholders, including local workforce innovation boards and local workforce innovation areas.