Illinois · Senate Bill 4026 · 104th General Assembly

SCH CD-FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQ

SB 4026 Sponsored by Kimberly A. Lightford In committee

  1. Introduced Feb 6, 2026
  2. In committee Feb 6, 2026
  3. Passed the Senate Next
  4. Passed the House  
  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 Courses of Study Article of the School Code. With respect to the requirement that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses, requires a high school to offer 2 years of foreign-language course credit to any student who either (i) successfully passes a…

Read the full title (115 words)

Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. With respect to the requirement that, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, each pupil entering the 9th grade must, as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma, successfully complete 2 years of foreign language courses, requires a high school to offer 2 years of foreign-language course credit to any student who either (i) successfully passes a standardized test of language proficiency for a language other than English at the level required for the State Seal of Biliteracy or (ii) presents an official transcript demonstrating completion of 2 years of high-school equivalency in which the language of instruction was in a language other than English.

Every action

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

  1. SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
  2. SenateFirst Reading
  3. CommitteeReferred to Assignments · Senate Assignments
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Education · Senate Education
  5. SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As March 27, 2026
  6. SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 24, 2026
  7. SenateRule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
  8. SenateRule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 22, 2026
  9. SenateRule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2026
  10. CommitteeRule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments · Senate Assignments

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

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.