---
type: "Bill"
title: "SCH CD-CURSIVE WRITING"
description: "Amends the School Code. Provides that every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction practicing writing in cursive."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "100th"
identifier: "HB 2977"
citation: "Illinois HB 2977 (100th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 98
vote_count: 6
first_action: "2017-02-09"
last_action: "2017-11-09"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/37fa4f9b-3196-441a-9978-94d9bf077896"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2977&GAID=14&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=104507&SessionID=91&GA=100"
source_hash: "57fbe84c64d9f59d33b658c51b72b39d419530fbf584ed2559c559c77c589eea"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 2977 (100th) — SCH CD-CURSIVE WRITING

Amends the School Code. Provides that every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction practicing writing in cursive.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2977&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104507&DocNum=2977&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2977eng&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104507&DocNum=2977&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10000HB2977enr&GA=100&SessionId=91&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=104507&DocNum=2977&GAID=14&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **67–48** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **41–15** (pass) · upper
- Motion — **61–52** (fail) · lower
- Motion — **42–12** (pass) · upper
- Motion — **77–36** (fail) · lower
- Concurrence, Amendment 1 — **62–38** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Emanuel Chris Welch — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-02-09** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch `filing`
- **2017-02-09** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-02-09** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-02-22** Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-03-08** Do Pass / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee; 011-006-000 `committee-passage`
- **2017-03-08** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2017-03-09** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sue Scherer
- **2017-03-09** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kathleen Willis
- **2017-03-09** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Deb Conroy
- **2017-03-09** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. LaToya Greenwood
- **2017-03-10** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
- **2017-03-13** Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Tom Demmer
- **2017-03-13** State Mandates Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Tom Demmer
- **2017-03-14** Fiscal Note Filed
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Frances Ann Hurley
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Juliana Stratton
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary E. Flowers
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Natalie A. Manley
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. John C. D'Amico
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Luis Arroyo
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin
- **2017-03-15** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Silvana Tabares
- **2017-03-16** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper
- **2017-03-16** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Litesa E. Wallace
- **2017-03-23** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2017-03-23** Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2017-03-30** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Ammons
- **2017-04-05** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
- **2017-04-05** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield
- **2017-04-05** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emily McAsey
- **2017-04-05** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
- **2017-04-05** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Halpin
- **2017-04-05** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jerry Costello, II
- **2017-04-05** Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2017-04-05** Note / Motion Filed - Note Act Does Not Apply Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch
- **2017-04-05** Motion Prevailed 061-052-000
- **2017-04-05** State Mandates Fiscal Note Request is Inapplicable
- **2017-04-05** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2017-04-05** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
- **2017-04-06** State Mandates Fiscal Note Filed
- **2017-04-07** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Wheeler
- **2017-04-11** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth
- **2017-04-11** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Cynthia Soto
- **2017-04-26** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. David A. Welter
- **2017-04-26** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 067-048-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2017-04-26** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nick Sauer
- **2017-04-26** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.
- **2017-04-27** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2017-04-27** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-04-27** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Thomas Cullerton
- **2017-04-27** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2017-04-27** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2017-05-02** Assigned to Education `referral-committee`
- **2017-05-08** Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
- **2017-05-09** Postponed - Education
- **2017-05-12** Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 19, 2017
- **2017-05-19** Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 26, 2017
- **2017-05-23** Postponed - Education
- **2017-05-23** Waive Posting Notice
- **2017-05-24** Do Pass Education; 010-001-001 `committee-passage`
- **2017-05-24** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 25, 2017
- **2017-05-24** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford `amendment-introduction`
- **2017-05-24** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2017-05-25** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2017-05-25** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 26, 2017
- **2017-05-25** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education
- **2017-05-26** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Education; 008-001-001
- **2017-05-26** Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2017 `reading-3`
- **2017-05-30** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins
- **2017-05-30** Recalled to Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2017-05-30** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Lightford `amendment-passage`
- **2017-05-30** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
- **2017-05-30** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter
- **2017-05-30** Third Reading - Passed; 041-015-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2017-05-30** Arrived in House `introduction`
- **2017-05-30** Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
- **2017-05-30** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch
- **2017-05-30** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2017-05-31** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000
- **2017-06-25** Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 062-038-000
- **2017-06-25** House Concurs
- **2017-06-25** Passed Both Houses
- **2017-07-24** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2017-09-22** Governor Vetoed `executive-veto`
- **2017-10-12** Placed on Calendar Total Veto
- **2017-10-17** Motion Filed Override Governor Veto Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch
- **2017-10-25** 3/5 Vote Required
- **2017-10-25** Override Governor Veto - House Passed 077-036-000
- **2017-11-01** Placed Calendar Total Veto
- **2017-11-07** Motion Filed Override Governor Veto Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
- **2017-11-08** 3/5 Vote Required
- **2017-11-08** Override Governor Veto - Senate Passed 042-012-000
- **2017-11-08** Both Houses Override Total Veto `veto-override-passage`
- **2017-11-09** Effective Date July 1, 2018
- **2017-11-09** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 100-0548 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/37fa4f9b-3196-441a-9978-94d9bf077896`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).