ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL’S LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ILLINOIS SERVICEMEMBERS’ ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION HEADED TO GOVERNOR’S DESK

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL'S LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ILLINOIS SERVICEMEMBERS' ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION HEADED TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

May 22, 2026

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul applauded the General Assembly's passage of his legislation, Protecting Access to Higher Education for Illinois Servicemembers and their Families, which would ensure Illinois servicemembers and their families are not academically penalized when military duty interrupts their higher education.

Senate Bill (SB) 3737 unanimously passed the Illinois Senate April 29 and the Illinois House of Representatives today. Illinois Sen. Mike Porfirio and Rep. Katie Stuart sponsored the legislation, which now goes to the governor's desk for final approval.

"Servicemembers should not be penalized if they are suddenly called to service while enrolled in higher-level education," Raoul said. "When natural disasters or other emergencies happen, our servicemembers may be called at a moment's notice. This legislation will ensure their education benefits are protected while they answer that call. I will continue to advocate for and protect the well-deserved benefits our servicemembers and their families have earned by committing their lives to this state and nation."

"Servicemembers can be called to active duty at any moment, pulling them away from their lives and education at home," Porfirio said. "It is our duty as legislators to make sure that when they return home, they can continue their education like they never left. Servicemembers should not be discouraged to seek higher education because of readmission concerns."

"Students who are willing to risk their lives for our freedom should be able to return to their education when their service ends," Stuart said. "Under the SERVE Act, whether called to active duty from the National Guard or any other deployment, service members' higher education enrollment and student standings are preserved."

Initiated by Raoul, SB 3737 reinforces Illinois' commitment to servicemembers and their families by protecting their path to degree completion and long-term economic opportunity. The legislation also extends protections to spouses whose education is adversely impacted by a servicemember's military obligations and prohibits discrimination based on military status.

Servicemembers, particularly those in the National Guard and reserve components, are frequently called to active duty with little notice. When service obligations arise, students can face lost tuition payments, academic penalties, delayed graduation or difficulty re-enrolling. These disruptions create unnecessary barriers for those who have chosen to serve our country.

Raoul's legislation mirrors the federal SERVE Act, 20 U.S.C. §1091c, which is enforced by the Department of Education and outlines higher education readmission requirements for servicemembers. Senate Bill 3737 will provide another level of protection for servicemembers through the Attorney General's enforcement and will also:

• Require higher education institutions to accommodate academic military leave when students are called to service.
• Ensure readmission rights following completion of military duty, including readmission with the same enrollment status, number of credit hours, academic standing and academic progress.
• Provide for reimbursement by the higher education institution of expenses, including tuition and fees, charged during the period of military service.
• Require reasonable academic accommodations, such as flexible deadlines or alternate assignments.

Senate Bill 3737 is part of Raoul's ongoing efforts to support Illinois servicemembers and their families by protecting their benefits. Attorney General Raoul's Military and Veterans Rights Bureau handles a wide variety of financial and legal concerns affecting servicemembers and veterans, such as military employment rights, housing, consumer fraud and scams connected with benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Military servicemembers, veterans and their families can visit Raoul's Military and Veterans Rights Bureau website for more information, or contact Raoul's Military and Veterans Rights Helpline for assistance by emailing [email protected], or by calling 1-800-382-3000 or 1-800-964-3013 (TTY).