104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3966
 
Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Graciela Guzmán
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
    Creates the Prohibition on Federal Voucher Program Participation Act. Prohibits the State from opting in to, participating in, implementing, administrating, or otherwise cooperating with any federal voucher, education savings account, or similar program established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
5Prohibition on Federal Voucher Program Participation Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative findings and purpose. The General 
7Assembly finds that:
8        (1) The State has a constitutional obligation to 
9    provide for an efficient system of high-quality public 
10    education, accessible to all students, without 
11    discrimination or diversion of public resources away from 
12    public schools.
13        (2) The federal legislation commonly referred to as 
14    the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," H.R. 1 of the 119th 
15    Congress, establishes a federal voucher or education 
16    savings account program that requires affirmative state 
17    participation or opt-in in order to operate within a 
18    state.
19        (3) Participation in federally established voucher 
20    programs risks diverting public funds from Illinois public 
21    schools, undermining local control, accountability, and 
22    equity in education.
23        (4) It is the intent of the General Assembly to 
 
 
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1    preserve State authority over education policy and to 
2    prohibit the use of State action to implement or 
3    participate in federally established voucher programs.
 
4    Section 10. Prohibition on participation in federal 
5voucher programs. Notwithstanding any other provision of law:
6        (1) The State shall not opt in to, participate in, 
7    implement, administer, or otherwise cooperate with any 
8    federal voucher, education savings account, or similar 
9    program established under H.R. 1 of the 119th Congress, 
10    known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," or any 
11    successor federal law that requires affirmative state 
12    participation and provides public funds or tax benefits 
13    for private elementary or secondary education.
14        (2) No rule, executive order, memorandum of 
15    understanding, intergovernmental agreement, or 
16    administrative action may be used to authorize 
17    participation in a program prohibited under this Section.
 
18    Section 15. Construction. Nothing in this Act shall be 
19construed to prohibit the State from receiving or 
20administering federal funds for public education programs that 
21are consistent with the Illinois Constitution and do not 
22provide vouchers, education savings accounts, or other 
23mechanisms for subsidizing private elementary or secondary 
24education.
 
 
 
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1    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
2becoming law.