Major Student Bills Passed and More to Watch

The Illinois General Assembly wrapped up the spring legislative session on Monday, June 1, 2026. As the legislature’s final actions shook out, several major initiatives passed that will impact students, and there is another to watch for the fall veto session. These are bills that school districts should be aware of.

SB 2427 – Cell Phone Ban

Illinois is one of only eight states without statewide restrictions on cell phone use in public schools. That is almost certain to change as Senate Bill 2427 passed on May 31, 2026 with bipartisan support. The bill now heads to Governor Pritzker’s desk, and he has already stated that he will sign the bill into law. SB 2427 will require Illinois school districts to adopt a “bell-to-bell” policy limiting wireless communication from the designated student arrival time through the designated dismissal time, including instructional time, recess, lunch, and passing periods. 

However, the bill provides that a school district may not prohibit device use in the following circumstances:

1. Health care management use as prescribed by a qualified health care professional;
2. As provided in a student’s IEP, 504 plan, or any other accommodation plan;
3. As necessary for English learners to access learning materials;
4. As necessary for a student caregiver; or
5. As required by any other State or federal law.

School policies may also permit students to access their devices when staff authorize their use for educational purposes, in the event of an emergency, or, for high school students only, during their lunch period.

Schools may not enforce these policies through fines, fees, suspensions, expulsions, ticketing, or the deployment of a School Resource Officer or other law enforcement officer, except when a device is used to engage in other misconduct that would be cause for suspension or expulsion. The policy must be posted on the school district’s website and included in the student handbook, along with the potential responses to violations of the policy.

Once the bill is signed into law, school districts must adopt and implement their policy by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. However, if a school district has an existing policy limiting wireless communication device use, the district may maintain its current policy through the 2030-2031 school year.

HB 3772 – Exclusionary Discipline Limitations for K-2 Students

With the passing of House Bill 3772 on May 30, 2026, school districts will likely be required to implement additional restrictions in their use of expulsions and lengthy suspensions with very young students. The bill prohibits any expulsions for students in kindergarten through 2^nd grade, with the exception of expulsions required as a result of a student’s possession of a weapon at school. With regard to possession of a weapon, other than a firearm, that is used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, K-2 students may only be expelled if it is determined they had the intent to cause bodily harm, which the bill defines as an injury involving a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or loss or impairment of a bodily member or organ.

For any suspensions of a K-2 student longer than 3 school days, the superintendent of the school district must provide oral or written approval. In addition, any suspension issued that is longer than 3 days cannot exceed the number of days it takes for the school district to review, amend, develop, or implement a behavior intervention plan or safety plan. Now that the bill has passed, it will be sent to the Governor, who is expected to sign it. Once signed, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2027.

SB 0939 – Potential Discipline Requirements for Sexual Misconduct

While Senate Bill 0939 did not ultimately pass both houses prior to the conclusion of the spring legislative session, it is an important bill to watch for the fall veto session. Senate Bill 0939 would require that a student who is found to have initiated a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault at a school, a school-sponsored activity or event, or an activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school be expelled for at least one year. In addition, a student who is found to have initiated non-consensual sexual conduct in one of these locations must be expelled for at least six months. SB 0939 passed the Senate in early May and was sent to the House. The bill is similar to a House bill, HB 5447, that advanced out of committee earlier in the spring before it stalled. Therefore, while this bill failed to pass both houses prior to the end of the spring session, its significant support in both houses makes it one to monitor during the fall veto session.

Please contact your Robbins Schwartz attorney with any questions regarding these legislative updates and how these might impact your school district’s practices.