republic-os/legislation/us/states/il/97th/sb-2949.md

type, title, description, jurisdiction, legislature, session, identifier, citation, classification, subjects, status, primary_sponsors, version_count, action_count, vote_count, first_action, last_action, source, source_identifier, source_url, source_hash, vintage, source_snapshot, retrieved_at, confidence, tags

type	title	description	jurisdiction	legislature	session	identifier	citation	classification	subjects	status	primary_sponsors	version_count	action_count	vote_count	first_action	last_action	source	source_identifier	source_url	source_hash	vintage	source_snapshot	retrieved_at	confidence	tags
Bill	HIGHER ED-RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE	Amends the University Religious Observances Act. Provides that any student in an institution of higher learning, other than a religious or denominational institution of higher learning, who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination, study, or work requirement and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up the examination, study, or work requirement that he or she may have missed because of such absence on a particular day; provided that the make-up examination, study, or work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the institution. Prohibits fees of any kind from being charged by the institution for making available to the student such an opportunity. Provides that no adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of these provisions. Requires publication of these provisions.	us/states/il	Illinois General Assembly	97th	SB 2949	Illinois SB 2949 (97th)	bill		enacted		3	39	3	2012-02-01	2012-08-20	openstates	ocd-bill/189c7157-6963-4e82-9c8e-122170ebf180	http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2949&GAID=11&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=63828&SessionID=84&GA=97	701fb17a645a52fa2ba93e1beecee51d1e239e376c47d5f4ff9f6c8cb94d3542	2026-07-01	https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump	2026-07-06	reported	legislation bill us-il

Illinois SB 2949 (97th) — HIGHER ED-RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE

Amends the University Religious Observances Act. Provides that any student in an institution of higher learning, other than a religious or denominational institution of higher learning, who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination, study, or work requirement and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up the examination, study, or work requirement that he or she may have missed because of such absence on a particular day; provided that the make-up examination, study, or work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the institution. Prohibits fees of any kind from being charged by the institution for making available to the student such an opportunity. Provides that no adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of these provisions. Requires publication of these provisions.

Version chain

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

1. Introduced (filed) — source
2. Engrossed (committee substitute) — source
3. Enrolled (enrolled) — source

Votes

• Concurrence — 56–0 (pass) · upper
• Third Reading — 112–0 (pass) · lower
• Third Reading — 54–0 (pass) · upper

Sponsors

• Ira I. Silverstein — primary (person)

Timeline

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

• 2012-02-01 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein filing
• 2012-02-01 First Reading reading-1
• 2012-02-01 Referred to Assignments referral-committee
• 2012-02-07 Assigned to Higher Education referral-committee
• 2012-02-28 Do Pass Higher Education; 010-000-000 committee-passage
• 2012-02-28 Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 29, 2012
• 2012-03-21 Second Reading reading-2
• 2012-03-21 Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 22, 2012
• 2012-03-22 Third Reading - Passed; 054-000-000 reading-3, passage
• 2012-03-22 Arrived in House introduction
• 2012-03-22 Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading reading-1
• 2012-03-22 Chief House Sponsor Rep. Sidney H. Mathias
• 2012-03-23 First Reading reading-1
• 2012-03-23 Referred to Rules Committee referral-committee
• 2012-04-10 Assigned to Higher Education Committee referral-committee
• 2012-04-20 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Sidney H. Mathias amendment-introduction
• 2012-04-20 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee referral-committee
• 2012-04-24 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Higher Education Committee
• 2012-04-25 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Higher Education Committee; by Voice Vote amendment-passage
• 2012-04-25 Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 011-000-000 committee-passage
• 2012-04-26 Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
• 2012-05-11 Second Reading - Short Debate reading-2
• 2012-05-11 Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
• 2012-05-15 Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kay Hatcher
• 2012-05-15 Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Thomas Morrison
• 2012-05-15 Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 112-000-000 reading-3, passage
• 2012-05-16 Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1
• 2012-05-16 Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 1 - May 17, 2012
• 2012-05-16 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Ira I. Silverstein filing
• 2012-05-16 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments referral-committee
• 2012-05-25 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to Higher Education referral-committee
• 2012-05-28 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt Higher Education; 007-000-000
• 2012-05-30 Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jeffrey M. Schoenberg
• 2012-05-30 House Committee Amendment No. 1 Senate Concurs 056-000-000
• 2012-05-30 Passed Both Houses
• 2012-06-28 Sent to the Governor executive-receipt
• 2012-08-20 Governor Approved executive-signature
• 2012-08-20 Effective Date January 1, 2013
• 2012-08-20 Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-1038 became-law

Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot 2026-07-01; origin ocd-bill/189c7157-6963-4e82-9c8e-122170ebf180. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).