Illinois Pending Homeschool Legislation

Reviewed November 4, 2026: updated.

Status as of November 4, 2026: Two bills affecting homeschoolers remain technically alive in the House Rules Committee until the 104th General Assembly ends in January 2027. Neither has moved in months. The fall veto session is scheduled for November 17-19 and December 1-3, 2026 (ISACo). We are checking daily through the veto session.

Next session: The 2027 session is scheduled to begin January 13, 2027, with prefiling from December 3, 2026 (MultiState). Bills not passed by then will die with the 104th General Assembly.

Pending Bills

HB 2827: Homeschool Act (Stalled)

• Sponsors: Rep. Terra Costa Howard (chief sponsor), Rep. Michelle Mussman (chief co-sponsor), and 15 other House Democrats
• Status: Passed the House Education Policy Committee in March and April 2025, then was re-referred to the House Rules Committee on April 11, 2025, where it remains (Illinois General Assembly: HB 2827; LegiScan). HSLDA reports it stayed dead through the 2025 veto session (HSLDA).
• On a committee agenda: Not currently (heard by House Education Policy in 2025)
• Synopsis: Would create the Homeschool Act. Parents would file a state homeschool notification form before September 1 each year, starting in 2026-27. A truant officer could request an educational portfolio during a truancy investigation, due within 10 days. It would also set content requirements for homeschool instruction (LegiScan bill summary).
• Rating: 👎 Increases burdens. It would add yearly filing and portfolio rules to one of the least regulated homeschool states.

HB 4253: Kindergarten Before First Grade (Stalled)

• Sponsors: Rep. Kevin Schmidt; co-sponsor Rep. Brandun Schweizer
• Status: Filed December 18, 2025 and referred to the House Rules Committee January 14, 2026, where it remains (Illinois General Assembly: HB 4253; LegiScan).
• On a committee agenda: No
• Synopsis: Starting in 2028-29, a public school pupil of compulsory school age who has not attended kindergarten at a public, private, or parochial school would have to complete kindergarten before first grade (LegiScan bill summary). Because Illinois homeschools are private schools, homeschool kindergarten should count, but the Illinois Ad Hoc Committee notes some schools misunderstand homeschool status (Ad Hoc Committee).
• Rating: ⚠️ Watch. It is not aimed at homeschoolers but could cause placement disputes for families entering public school in first grade.