Illinois legislation · 104th General Assembly
Illinois SB3737: SERVICEMEMBERS-SERVE ACT
Status: Signed into law, July 15, 2026
Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act. Requires institutions of higher education (institution) to accommodate service member student's academic military leave and grant prompt readmission when the service member student has not exceeded a cumulative academic military leave period beyond 5 years, provides advance notice of academic military leave to the institution, and provides notice of intent to return to the institution. Requires the institution to readmit a service member student on academic military leave into the next class, classes, or academic year division following the receipt of the notice of intent to return in accordance with the terms of the accommodation. Contains provisions on exemptions to readmission and related reporting requirements on service member students; investigations by the Attorney General's appointed ISERRA Advocate on whether a readmission exemption exists; and other matters. Requires service member students to provide advance notice of pending military service and prohibits institutions from imposing conditions for academic military leave not otherwise imposed under the Act. Contains provisions on military accommodation; academic obligations of service member students; reimbursement for school expenses; academic withdrawal due to military service; rejection of accommodation and the institution's burden of proof; a 5-year military service limitation; records documentation; advance notice requirements on service member students; notice of intent to return; anti-discrimination protections; academic leave for the spouses of servicemembers; Attorney General enforcement authority; remedies; rulemaking authority; and other matters.
What the bill says
A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026SB3737Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Mike PorfirioSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act…
From the introduced text, February 5, 2026:
A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026SB3737Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Mike PorfirioSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act. Requiresinstitutions of higher education (institution) to accommodate servicemember student's academic military leave and grant prompt readmission whenthe service member student has not exceeded a cumulative academic militaryleave period beyond 5 years, provides advance notice of academic militaryleave to the institution, and provides notice of intent to return to theinstitution. Requires the institution to readmit a service member studenton academic military leave into the next class, classes, or academic yeardivision following the receipt of the notice of intent to return inaccordance with the terms of the accommodation. Contains provisions onexemptions to readmission and related reporting requirements on servicemember students; investigations by the Attorney General's appointed ISERRAAdvocate on whether a readmission exemption exists; and other matters.Requires service member students to provide advance notice of pendingmilitary service and prohibits institutions from imposing conditions foracademic military leave not otherwise imposed under the Act. Containsprovisions on military accommodation; academic obligations of servicemember students; reimbursement for school expenses; academic withdrawaldue to military service; rejection of accommodation and the institution'sburden of proof; a 5-year military service limitation; recordsdocumentation; advance notice requirements on service member students;notice of intent to return; anti-discrimination protections; academicleave for the spouses …
Sponsors
- Mike Porfirio (D, 11) · primary sponsor
- Craig Wilcox (R, 32)
- Jason Plummer (R, 55)
- Graciela Guzmán (D, 20)
- Laura M. Murphy (D, 28)
- Bill Cunningham (D, 18)
- Jil Tracy (R, 50)
- Michael W. Halpin (D, 36)
- Sally J. Turner (R, 44)
- Erica Harriss (R, 56)
- Katie Stuart (D, 112)
- Sharon Chung (D, 91)
Latest actions
- : Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0574
- : Effective Date January 1, 2027
- : Governor Approved
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Severin
- : Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Patrick Sheehan
- : Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. William E Hauter
- : Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jason R. Bunting
- : Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. David Friess
- : Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jeff Keicher
Votes
- Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed (May 22, 2026): 100 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass / Short Debate Executive Committee (May 14, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading - Passed (April 29, 2026): 56 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Higher Education (April 15, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass Higher Education (March 4, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: New Act
Common questions
- What is SB3737?
- SB3737 is a bill in the Illinois Legislature (104th General Assembly): SERVICEMEMBERS-SERVE ACT.
- What does SB3737 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026SB3737Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Mike PorfirioSYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act New Act New Act Creates the Servicemember Education Rights Veneration Act…
- What is the status of SB3737?
- Signed into law as of July 15, 2026. Latest action: Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0574 (July 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB3737?
- Mike Porfirio (D, 11), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB3737?
- On the Illinois Legislature website: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=3737&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114
Source: official Illinois record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.