Illinois HB 4577: KINDERGARTEN-PLAY-BASED LEARN

What it does

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

Amends the School Code regarding the establishment of kindergartens. With respect to a provision stating that kindergarten should provide opportunities for play-based learning, defines: (1) "play-based learning" as either guided play or student-initiated play; (2) "guided play" as intentional teacher-directed play with activities set up and led by a teacher that are aligned to learning goals or standards; and (3)…

Read the full title (87 words)

Amends the School Code regarding the establishment of kindergartens. With respect to a provision stating that kindergarten should provide opportunities for play-based learning, defines: (1) "play-based learning" as either guided play or student-initiated play; (2) "guided play" as intentional teacher-directed play with activities set up and led by a teacher that are aligned to learning goals or standards; and (3) "student-initiated play" as child-selected opportunities to build, pretend, create, move, or explore in an environment intentionally curated by a teacher to align with learning goals or standards.

Every action

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

Show the 46 earlier steps

Jan 23, 2026HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
Feb 3, 2026HouseFirst Reading
Feb 3, 2026CommitteeReferred to Rules Committee · House Rules
Feb 11, 2026CommitteeAssigned to Education Policy Committee · House Education Policy
Feb 13, 2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
Feb 13, 2026CommitteeHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
Feb 25, 2026CommitteeDo Pass / Short Debate Education Policy Committee; 009-004-000 · House Education Policy
Feb 25, 2026HouseHouse Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled
Feb 25, 2026HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Mar 9, 2026HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Laura Faver Dias
Mar 9, 2026CommitteeHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
Mar 18, 2026CommitteeHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Education Policy Committee · House Education Policy
Mar 25, 2026CommitteeHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Education Policy Committee; 012-000-000 · House Education Policy
Apr 7, 2026HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
Apr 7, 2026HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
Apr 7, 2026HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
Apr 8, 2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II
Apr 8, 2026HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr
Apr 8, 2026HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 080-026-000
Apr 10, 2026SenateArrive in Senate
Apr 10, 2026SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
Apr 10, 2026SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
Apr 10, 2026SenateFirst Reading
Apr 10, 2026CommitteeReferred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
Apr 22, 2026CommitteeAssigned to Education · Senate Education
Apr 28, 2026CommitteePostponed - Education · Senate Education
May 6, 2026CommitteeDo Pass Education; 010-004-000 · Senate Education
May 6, 2026SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026
May 12, 2026SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
May 12, 2026CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
May 13, 2026CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education · Senate Assignments
May 18, 2026SenateSecond Reading
May 18, 2026SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 19, 2026
May 19, 2026CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Education; 012-001-000 · Senate Education
May 20, 2026SenateRecalled to Second Reading
May 20, 2026SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Edly-Allen
May 20, 2026SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
May 20, 2026SenateThird Reading - Passed; 045-013-000
May 20, 2026HouseArrived in House
May 20, 2026HousePlaced on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1
May 21, 2026HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Laura Faver Dias
May 21, 2026CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee · House Rules
May 21, 2026CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Education Policy Committee · House Education Policy
May 21, 2026CommitteeSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Education Policy Committee; 009-003-000 · House Education Policy
May 27, 2026HouseSenate Floor Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 076-027-003
May 27, 2026HouseHouse Concurs

May 27, 2026HousePassed Both Houses
May 31, 2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick
Jun 1, 2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
Jun 1, 2026SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter
Jun 25, 2026HouseSent to the Governor
Jul 10, 2026HouseGovernor Approved
Jul 10, 2026HouseEffective Date January 1, 2027
Jul 10, 2026HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0555

Roll calls

8 recorded votes: 3 on the floor, 5 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Third Reading · Full House

Passed 80–26

Apr 8, 2026 · journal entry

Yes 80 No 26 Not voting 12

Democrats: 73 yes, 0 no Republicans: 7 yes, 26 no

How each member voted

Yes · 80

No · 26

Not voting · 4

Excused · 8

Third Reading · Full Senate

Passed 45–13

May 20, 2026 · journal entry

Yes 45 No 13 Not voting 1

Democrats: 39 yes, 0 no Republicans: 6 yes, 13 no

How each member voted

Yes · 45

No · 13

Not voting · 1

Napoleon Harris IIID

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Concurrence · Full House

Passed 76–27

May 27, 2026 · journal entry

Yes 76 No 27 Not voting 15

Democrats: 74 yes, 0 no Republicans: 2 yes, 27 no

How each member voted

Yes · 76

No · 27

Not voting · 8

Excused · 7

Committee and other votes

Date	Where	Question	Result
Feb 25, 2026	House Education Policy	Education Policy - Do Pass Members Yes · 9 Diane Blair-SherlockD Fred CrespoD Gregg JohnsonD Janet Yang RohrD Joyce MasonD Katie StuartD Laura Faver DiasD Maura HirschauerD Michelle MussmanD No · 4 Adam M. NiemergR Amy ElikR Blaine WilhourR Dan SwansonR	Passed 9–4
Mar 25, 2026	House Education Policy	House Floor Amendment No. 2 - Education Policy - Recommends Be Adopted Members Yes · 12 Adam M. NiemergR Amy ElikR Dan SwansonR Diane Blair-SherlockD Fred CrespoD Gregg JohnsonD Janet Yang RohrD Joyce MasonD Katie StuartD Laura Faver DiasD Maura HirschauerD Michelle MussmanD Not voting · 1 Blaine WilhourR	Passed 12–0
May 5, 2026	Senate Education	Education - Do Pass Members Yes · 10 Adriane L. JohnsonD Christopher BeltD Doris TurnerD Karina VillaD Kimberly A. LightfordD Mary Edly-AllenD Meg Loughran CappelD Mike PorfirioD Ram VillivalamD Willie PrestonD No · 4 Chapin RoseR Chris BalkemaR Craig WilcoxR Dale FowlerR Not voting · 1 Donald P. DeWitteR	10–4
May 19, 2026	Senate Education	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Education - Recommend Do Adopt Members Yes · 12 Adriane L. JohnsonD Chris BalkemaR Christopher BeltD Dale FowlerR Donald P. DeWitteR Doris TurnerD Kimberly A. LightfordD Mary Edly-AllenD Meg Loughran CappelD Mike PorfirioD Ram VillivalamD Willie PrestonD No · 1 Craig WilcoxR Not voting · 2 Chapin RoseR Laura EllmanD	Passed 12–1
May 21, 2026	House Education Policy	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Education Policy - Recommends Be Adopted Members Yes · 9 Diane Blair-SherlockD Fred CrespoD Gregg JohnsonD Janet Yang RohrD Joyce MasonD Katie StuartD Laura Faver DiasD Maura HirschauerD Michelle MussmanD No · 3 Adam M. NiemergR Amy ElikR Blaine WilhourR Not voting · 1 Dan SwansonR	Passed 9–3

What it does

Every action

Roll calls

Third Reading · Full House

Third Reading · Full Senate

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 - Concurrence · Full House

Committee and other votes

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