HB4990 - 104th General Assembly

HIGHER ED-PREVENT SEX VIOLENCE
Last Action
5/06/2026 - Senate: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
110 ILCS 155/50 new
110 ILCS 155/55 new
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act. Makes changes concerning definitions. Requires a higher education institution's comprehensive policy to include sexual harassment. Provides that a confidential advisor is separate from a complaint advisor, unless a complainant chooses to have the confidential advisor also serve as the complaint advisor. Makes changes to the complaint resolution procedure, including the timeline of the complaint resolution procedure, protective measures and accommodations, the distribution of evidence that includes a private or intentionally digitally altered sexual image, the direct questioning of either party, support persons for survivors and respondents, and the notice of appeal. Provides that violations of the Act are actionable in civil court. Sets forth the relief a prevailing survivor is entitled to. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure to make changes concerning confidential advisors. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2027.

House Floor Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
110 ILCS 155/50 new
110 ILCS 155/55 new
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that, on or before August 1, 2027, each higher education institution shall update its comprehensive policy to ensure compliance with the amendatory Act. Requires each higher education institution to act in accordance with its comprehensive policy. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2027, any party that is aggrieved by the failure of a higher education institution to respond to conduct that violates the higher education institution's comprehensive policy or the substantial failure of a higher education institution to act in accordance with its comprehensive policy may bring a civil lawsuit. Provides that the lawsuit must be brought no later than 7 years after the alleged violation of the comprehensive policy or 7 years after the date the aggrieved party becomes aware of the alleged violation, whichever is later. Provides that a higher education institution may consolidate complaints by a complainant against more than one respondent or by more than one complainant against one or more respondents if the allegations arise out of the same facts or circumstances and if the higher education institution provides the complainant with a timely written notice of its intent to consolidate and offers the complainant a reasonable opportunity to respond. Changes references to "protective measures and accommodations" to references to "protective and supportive measures". Provides that each request for protective and supportive measures must be evaluated on an individualized basis to determine the reasonableness of the request, and, if the original request is determined to be unreasonable, the higher education institution must consider alternative reasonable protective and supportive measures to address the party's needs. Removes provisions concerning a cause of action under the Act and the relief to which a prevailing survivor is entitled. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2027.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
110 ILCS 155/50 new
110 ILCS 155/55 new
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that, on or before August 1, 2027, each higher education institution shall update its comprehensive policy to ensure compliance with the amendatory Act. Requires each higher education institution to act in accordance with its comprehensive policy. Provides that, beginning August 1, 2027, any party that is aggrieved by conduct of a higher education institution that violates provisions concerning the comprehensive policy may bring a civil lawsuit. Provides that the lawsuit must be brought no later than 4 years after the alleged violation or 4 years after the date the aggrieved party becomes aware of the alleged violation, whichever is later. Provides that a court may not find that a higher education institution violated the provisions if the higher education institution demonstrates substantial compliance in good faith with its comprehensive policy and applicable law in effect at the time of the alleged violation. Provides that a higher education institution may consolidate complaints by a complainant against more than one respondent or by more than one complainant against one or more respondents if the allegations arise out of the same facts or circumstances and if the higher education institution provides the complainant with a timely written notice of its intent to consolidate and offers the complainant a reasonable opportunity to respond. Changes references to "protective measures and accommodations" to references to "protective and supportive measures". Provides that each request for protective and supportive measures must be evaluated on an individualized basis to determine the reasonableness of the request, and, if the original request is determined to be unreasonable, the higher education institution must consider alternative reasonable protective and supportive measures to address the party's needs. Removes provisions concerning a cause of action under the Act and the relief to which a prevailing survivor is entitled. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2027.
Actions
Date Chamber Action
2/04/2026 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty
2/06/2026 House First Reading
2/06/2026 House Referred to Rules Committee
3/12/2026 House Assigned to Higher Education Committee
3/25/2026 House Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 008-002-000
3/26/2026 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
4/10/2026 House Second Reading - Short Debate
4/10/2026 House Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
4/13/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe
4/14/2026 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Mary Beth Canty
4/14/2026 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
4/15/2026 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee
4/15/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez
4/15/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
4/15/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
4/15/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi
4/15/2026 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Higher Education Committee; 007-002-000
4/16/2026 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Mussman
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Amy Briel
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
4/17/2026 House Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
4/17/2026 House House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
4/17/2026 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
4/17/2026 House Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 072-027-000
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse
4/17/2026 House Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
4/21/2026 Senate Arrive in Senate
4/21/2026 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 28, 2026
4/22/2026 Senate Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura
4/22/2026 Senate First Reading
4/22/2026 Senate Referred to Assignments
4/22/2026 Senate Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Graciela Guzmán
4/22/2026 Senate Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura
4/28/2026 Senate Assigned to Higher Education
5/04/2026 Senate Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Graciela Guzmán
5/04/2026 Senate Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
5/05/2026 Senate Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Higher Education
5/06/2026 Senate Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
5/06/2026 Senate Do Pass as Amended Higher Education; 008-005-000
5/06/2026 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026
5/15/2026 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Graciela Guzmán
5/15/2026 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments
5/15/2026 Senate Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio