104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4251
 
Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. David Friess
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
110 ILCS 167/18 new
    Amends the Public Higher Education Act. Provides that if a scholarship or tuition waiver funded by the federal government has been awarded by a public institution of higher education to a student and the federal government shuts down due to a lapse in appropriations, then (i) the scholarship or waiver shall remain in effect for the duration of the shutdown and (ii) the student is not required to pay the amount that was covered by the scholarship or waiver during the award period if the institution of higher education has reasonable confidence that a disbursement from the federal government to cover the cost of the scholarship or waiver will be made upon the reopening of the federal government.


LRB104 16381 LNS 29770 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
HB4251LRB104 16381 LNS 29770 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Public Higher Education Act is amended by 
5adding Section 18 as follows:
 
6    (110 ILCS 167/18 new)
7    Sec. 18. Federal government shutdown; scholarships and 
8tuition waivers. If a scholarship or tuition waiver funded by 
9the federal government has been awarded by a public 
10institution of higher education to a student and the federal 
11government shuts down due to a lapse in appropriations, then:
12        (1) the scholarship or waiver shall remain in effect 
13    for the duration of the shutdown; and
14        (2) the student is not required to pay the amount that 
15    was covered by the scholarship or waiver during the award 
16    period if the institution of higher education has 
17    reasonable confidence that a disbursement from the federal 
18    government to cover the cost of the scholarship or waiver 
19    will be made upon the reopening of the federal government.