School cell phone ban, human composting bills among hundreds advancing
in Springfield
[April 18, 2026]
By Jenna Schweikert, Nikoel Hytrek
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House on Thursday approved the latest version
of a bill that would require school boards to prohibit public school
students from using their cellphones in the classroom.
Senate Bill 2427, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg,
passed 102-3, with one present vote. It would require Illinois school
districts to adopt policies by the 2027-28 school year banning the use
of wireless communication devices like cellphones, tablets, laptops and
gaming devices during school time.
“The research is clear: This constant source of distraction is lowering
their academic progress, increasing anxiety, depression and cyber
bullying, and inhibiting face-to-face communication at a critical time
when youth are developing their social skills,” Mussman said.
An earlier version passed the Senate last year, but the process “was
slowed down to allow more time for thoughtful discussion,” Mussman said,
which resulted in “a stronger bill.”
Under the new language, the prohibition would be bell-to-bell for
elementary and middle school students, but the legislation leaves
discretion for school districts to allow high school students to use
their devices during lunch and breaks.
The bill also includes carveouts for students with medical needs, who
are caregivers for family members, and who need their phone for English
translation services. School officials can also permit device use if
it’s for educational purposes.
Because the House amended the bill, it will need another vote in the
Senate. Gov. JB Pritzker has been pushing for such a ban for two years.
Human composting
Lawmakers are taking another stab at passing legislation to allow human
composting as a burial option.
House Bill 5425 would establish a lengthy series of regulations for
composting human bodies that cemeteries, crematories and other funeral
service providers must follow.
“This is a process that can help to alleviates some of the environmental
concerns as it is net carbon neutral using one-eighth the energy of
cremation and no harsh chemicals like things that we do in embalming,”
Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, said.
The bill has struggled to move forward in Springfield despite years of
debate on the issue. But despite new changes to the proposal this year,
the bill is still opposed by the Catholic Church, Cemetery and Funeral
Home Association and comptroller’s office — which enforces cemetery
regulations in Illinois.
The latest amendment to the bill shifted sole responsibility for
regulations to the comptroller rather than the Department of Public
Health.
“It’s not the same as overseeing a cemetery or a columbarium or anything
of that sort,” said Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, adding it
“relies solely on good behavior … without oversight.”
The bill passed the House on a 64-36 vote and goes for another try in
the Senate.
Nonprofit investment fund
The House and Senate both passed versions of a bill to authorize the
state treasurer to set up and operate an investment fund that would
manage the deposits of nonprofit corporations.
The idea is an initiative of State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, who has
said the fund would offer higher rates of return than banks offer
through standard checking or savings accounts and greater liquidity than
long-term investment funds.
Lawmakers passed similar legislation in 2025, but Pritzker vetoed it,
saying such a fund could be used to benefit extremist groups that
organize as nonprofit corporations.
The two bills moving through the General Assembly this year — House Bill
5045 and Senate Bill 2968 — contain language that excludes organizations
that are barred from receiving state or federal contracts or grants. The
bills also limit participation to groups organized for specific purposes
such as labor organizations, legal aid services, food pantries,
neighborhood development, affordable housing or education.
Even with those changes, the bills drew opposition from the banking
industry, which views the program as a form of government competition
with private business. But supporters of the bill argued it would fill a
need that the banking industry is not currently meeting.
“Some of these banks will not even provide loans, let alone investment
opportunities, to these small entities because they just don’t have
enough money for them to where it would make sense,” Rita Mayfield,
D-Gurnee, the bill’s chief House sponsor, said during floor debate.
The House bill passed 69-32, with one member voting “present.” The
Senate version passed 41-16.
Each bill now goes to the other chamber for consideration.
Abortion medical records
The House on Thursday passed House Bill 5295 that would create the
Reproductive Health Records Privacy Act and automatically segregate
abortion-related services and treatment from digital medical records.
Access to those records would be restricted for out-of-state entities.
The bill is an initiative from the governor’s office.
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Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights speaks on the House floor
April 17. Canty is the sponsor on a contentious human composting
bill. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jenna Schweikert)
“Here in Illinois we believe that people should be safe to receive the
care that they choose to receive and therefore we want to help keep that
information concealed and only released with their consent to providers
outside of the state,” Canty, the bill’s sponsor, said.
She acknowledged that abortion care is criminalized or stigmatized in
other states, and that patients might be treated differently if
providers know about those prior diagnoses or treatments.
The information is not deleted or expunged, only restricted, and the
bill gives patients the freedom to reveal any information they wish.
Republicans objected to the bill and questioned whether abortion-related
information would be necessary for future treatment.
Canty said doctors from other states that have similar legislation
assured her that specific information about abortion-related care is not
needed.
The bill also applies to diagnoses and treatment of gender dysphoria.
The measure passed 73-34 along party lines.
Bereavement leave
A bill from Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, seeks to extend the type and
length of bereavement leave for all employees.
House Bill 5208 would give employees at businesses with less than 50
employees the right to up to five days of unpaid bereavement leave
within 12 months of the death of an immediate family member or a
pregnancy or adoption-related event. Individuals who work for employers
of more than 50 people are entitled to take up to 10 days.
The bill also removes a provision requiring employees to provide
documentation of the loss, although employers may still ask for it. It
also adds a provision for leave after the loss of a child — in that
event, employers of less than 50 people are to give up to three work
weeks; 50 to 250 employees up to six weeks; and more than 250 up to 12
weeks.
Finally, the bill would allow all employees up to three days of unpaid
leave to make arrangements for or to attend the funeral of any person.
The bill faced scrutiny from business organizations like the National
Federation of Independent Business and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce,
who were concerned about the fiscal impact, particularly to small
businesses.
It passed 80-26 along party lines and will now head to the Senate.
Speed control devices
Illinois lawmakers are considering giving drivers who have their license
suspended for speeding an alternative by requiring them to use a speed
control device.
“Speeding is a factor in nearly half of all deadly crashes and the risk
of fatality increases as speed increases,” bill sponsor Rep. Marti
Deuter, D-Elmhurst, said. “And we know that the primary penalty for
extreme or repeat speeders, which is license suspension or revocation,
doesn’t work.”
Under House Bill 4948, drivers who have their license suspended
following two infractions within 12 months for speeding 26 mph or more
over the speed limit would qualify to apply for a permit with the
secretary of state’s office to join the program. If approved, they’d
have to pay a $30 monthly fee to have the device installed in their car,
which would prevent a driver’s vehicle from surpassing the speed limit.
Drivers would be required to use the device for six months after their
first suspension, one year after their second suspension and two years
after three or more suspensions.
The bill caused some consternation for some lawmakers who worried about
disproportionate impacts on people of color.
“I have serious concerns,” said Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago. “I think
we all know from an anecdotal perspective that it’s mostly Black and
brown individuals who are stopped by law enforcement. So by default, I
think we’re often most likely to be the individuals who are caught up
with what your bill is … aiming to enforce.”
Tarver ultimately voted for the bill, which passed the House 77-24, with
one lawmaker voting present. It now goes to the Senate.
Assault investigations
House Bill 4394 would require law enforcement agencies with officers of
more than one sex or gender to inform victims of sexual assault or abuse
that they can request that their interview is given by an officer of a
specific sex or gender, when one is available. This includes law
enforcement offices, hospitals or other health care facilities.
If the requested officer is not available, the victim may consent to be
interviewed by someone else, reschedule the interview or cancel it. The
bill, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, passed
unanimously and now heads to the Senate.
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