Illinois · House Bill 2401 · 103rd General Assembly

SCH CD-DIVERSITY IN LITERATURE

HB 2401 Sponsored by La Shawn K. Ford Died in committee

  1. Introduced Feb 14, 2023
  2. In committee Feb 15, 2023
  3. Died  
  4. Passed the Senate  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Amends the Instructional Materials Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district (including a charter school) shall require that books that are included as a part of any course, material, instruction, reading assignment, or other school curricula related to literature during the school year or that appear on summer reading lists must include books that are written by diverse authors, including, but not…

Read the full title (214 words)

Amends the Instructional Materials Article of the School Code. Provides that a school district (including a charter school) shall require that books that are included as a part of any course, material, instruction, reading assignment, or other school curricula related to literature during the school year or that appear on summer reading lists must include books that are written by diverse authors, including, but not limited to, authors who are African American, women, Native American, LatinX, and Asian. Provides that reading material may not perpetuate bias against persons based on specified categories. Provides that for any school district utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the selection of each book to be included in a reading assignment, course material and instruction, or other school curricula related to literature must first receive prior approval from the school board before the book may be included. Provides that the criteria for the approval or denial of a book shall be determined by school board policy, but the minimum requirement is that the book may not be approved by the school board if the book contains language or material that is derogatory or racist or incites hate against any persons. Provides for rulemaking and guidelines. Effective immediately.

Every action

28 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 20 earlier steps
  1. HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  2. HouseFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  4. HouseBalanced Budget Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  5. HouseFiscal Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  6. HouseHome Rule Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  7. HouseHousing Affordability Impact Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  8. HouseJudicial Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  9. HouseLand Conveyance Appraisal Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  10. HousePension Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  11. HouseState Debt Impact Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  12. HouseState Mandates Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  13. CommitteeAssigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee · House Elem Sec Ed: School Curric Policies
  14. HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  15. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  16. HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  17. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  18. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee · House Elem Sec Ed: School Curric Policies
  19. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee · House Elem Sec Ed: School Curric Policies
  20. HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
  1. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  2. HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar
  3. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee · House Elem Sec Ed: School Curric Policies
  4. CommitteeRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  5. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  6. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 2 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  7. CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 3 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
  8. HouseSession Sine Die

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 1 cosponsor: 1 Democrat.

All 1 cosponsor

From Illinois's official records (www.ilga.gov), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.