Illinois 104th General Assembly Status: To Executive 5 D cosponsors

HB4420      — COLLEGE PRESS ACT-PUBLIC MEDIA

Last action — Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0488

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 14, 2026. It awaits signature.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · moderate confidence
  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill ensures campus media is a public forum free from prior review by officials.

This bill amends the College Campus Press Act to designate public media at state universities as a public forum. It prohibits prior review of this media by university officials and grants legal recourse for violations.

Summary

Amends the College Campus Press Act. Defines "public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning". Provides that all public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the employees producing the media at the institution of higher learning. Provides that public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is not subject to prior review by public officials of the State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Allows an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court for violation of the Act by such State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that expression made by an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is neither expression of campus policy nor speech attributable to a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is immune from any lawsuit arising from expression actually made in public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Makes other changes.

Bill Text

We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.

Read HB4420 on the official Illinois source →

Action History

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0488

  2. Effective Date January 1, 2027

  3. Governor Approved

  4. Sent to the Governor

  5. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman

  6. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

  7. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin

  8. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa

  9. Passed Both Houses

  10. Third Reading - Passed; 039-019-000

  11. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026

  12. Second Reading

  13. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026

  14. Do Pass Executive; 009-004-000

  15. Assigned to Executive

  16. Referred to Assignments

  17. First Reading

  18. Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. David Koehler

  19. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

  20. Arrive in Senate

  21. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 075-036-000

  22. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart

  23. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson

  24. Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth

  25. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

  26. Second Reading - Short Debate

  27. Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch

  28. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  29. Do Pass / Short Debate Higher Education Committee; 011-000-000

  30. Assigned to Higher Education Committee

  31. Referred to Rules Committee

  32. First Reading

  33. Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Sharon Chung

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 173 not signed on · 54 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (173)

173 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 173 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Third Reading

Passed 39 Yea · 19 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 01900
Democrat 37001
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 381901
% of votes cast 66%33%0%2%
How each member voted (58)
Member Party Vote
Johnson — Yea
Bill Cunningham Democrat Yea
Celina Villanueva Democrat Yea
Christopher Belt Democrat Yea
Cristina Castro Democrat Yea
David Koehler Democrat Yea
Doris Turner Democrat Yea
Elgie R. Sims, Jr. Democrat Yea
Graciela Guzmán Democrat Yea
Javier L. Cervantes Democrat Yea
Julie A. Morrison Democrat Yea
Karina Villa Democrat Yea
Kimberly A. Lightford Democrat Yea
Lakesia Collins Democrat Yea
Laura Ellman Democrat Yea
Laura Fine Democrat Yea
Laura M. Murphy Democrat Yea
Linda Holmes Democrat Yea
Mark L. Walker Democrat Yea
Mary Edly-Allen Democrat Yea
Mattie Hunter Democrat Yea
Meg Loughran Cappel Democrat Yea
Michael E. Hastings Democrat Yea
Michael W. Halpin Democrat Yea
Mike Porfirio Democrat Yea
Mike Simmons Democrat Yea
Napoleon Harris III Democrat Not Voting
Omar Aquino Democrat Yea
Patrick J. Joyce Democrat Yea
Paul Faraci Democrat Yea
Rachel Ventura Democrat Yea
Ram Villivalam Democrat Yea
Robert F. Martwick Democrat Yea
Robert Peters Democrat Yea
Sara Feigenholtz Democrat Yea
Steve Stadelman Democrat Yea
Suzy Glowiak Hilton Democrat Yea
Thaddeus Jones Democrat Yea
Willie Preston Democrat Yea
Andrew S. Chesney Republican Nay
Chapin Rose Republican Nay
Chris Balkema Republican Nay
Craig Wilcox Republican Nay
Dale Fowler Republican Nay
Darby A. Hills Republican Nay
Dave Syverson Republican Nay
Donald P. DeWitte Republican Nay
Erica Harriss Republican Nay
Jason Plummer Republican Nay
Jil Tracy Republican Nay
John F. Curran Republican Nay
Li Arellano, Jr. Republican Nay
Neil Anderson Republican Nay
Sally J. Turner Republican Nay
Seth Lewis Republican Nay
Steve McClure Republican Nay
Sue Rezin Republican Nay
Terri Bryant Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Executive

Passed 9 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 0400
Democrat 9000
Total 9400
% of votes cast 69%31%0%0%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Bill Cunningham Democrat Yea
Cristina Castro Democrat Yea
Don Harmon Democrat Yea
Kimberly A. Lightford Democrat Yea
Laura M. Murphy Democrat Yea
Linda Holmes Democrat Yea
Mattie Hunter Democrat Yea
Napoleon Harris III Democrat Yea
Omar Aquino Democrat Yea
Jil Tracy Republican Nay
John F. Curran Republican Nay
Neil Anderson Republican Nay
Sue Rezin Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Third Reading

Passed 75 Yea · 36 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 72003
Republican 03504
Unaffiliated 2100
Total 743607
% of votes cast 63%31%0%6%
How each member voted (117)
Member Party Vote
Jacobs — Nay
Johnson — Yea
Hernandez, Lisa — Yea
Aarón M. Ortíz Democrat Yea
Abdelnasser Rashid Democrat Yea
Amy Briel Democrat Yea
Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar Democrat Yea
Ann M. Williams Democrat Yea
Anna Moeller Democrat Yea
Anne Stava Democrat Yea
Anthony DeLuca Democrat Yea
Barbara Hernandez Democrat Yea
Bob Morgan Democrat Yea
Camille Y. Lilly Democrat Yea
Carol Ammons Democrat Yea
Curtis J. Tarver, II Democrat Yea
Dagmara Avelar Democrat Yea
Daniel Didech Democrat Yea
Dave Vella Democrat Yea
Debbie Meyers-Martin Democrat Yea
Diane Blair-Sherlock Democrat Yea
Edgar González, Jr. Democrat Yea
Eva-Dina Delgado Democrat Yea
Fred Crespo Democrat Yea
Harry Benton Democrat Yea
Hoan Huynh Democrat Not Voting
Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. Democrat Yea
Janet Yang Rohr Democrat Yea
Jawaharial Williams Democrat Yea
Jay Hoffman Democrat Yea
Jehan Gordon-Booth Democrat Yea
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz Democrat Yea
Joyce Mason Democrat Yea
Justin Cochran Democrat Yea
Justin Slaughter Democrat Yea
Kam Buckner Democrat Yea
Katie Stuart Democrat Yea
Kelly M. Cassidy Democrat Yea
Kevin John Olickal Democrat Yea
Kimberly Du Buclet Democrat Yea
La Shawn K. Ford Democrat Not Voting
Laura Faver Dias Democrat Yea
Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. Democrat Yea
Lilian Jiménez Democrat Yea
Lindsey LaPointe Democrat Yea
Lisa Davis Democrat Yea
Marcus C. Evans, Jr. Democrat Yea
Margaret A. DeLaRosa Democrat Yea
Margaret Croke Democrat Yea
Martha Deuter Democrat Yea
Mary Beth Canty Democrat Yea
Mary Gill Democrat Yea
Matt Hanson Democrat Yea
Maura Hirschauer Democrat Yea
Maurice A. West, II Democrat Yea
Michael Crawford Democrat Yea
Michael J. Kelly Democrat Yea
Michelle Mussman Democrat Yea
Nabeela Syed Democrat Yea
Natalie A. Manley Democrat Yea
Nicholas K. Smith Democrat Yea
Nicolle Grasse Democrat Yea
Norma Hernandez Democrat Yea
Rick Ryan Democrat Not Voting
Rita Mayfield Democrat Yea
Robert "Bob" Rita Democrat Yea
Robyn Gabel Democrat Yea
Sharon Chung Democrat Yea
Sonya M. Harper Democrat Yea
Stephanie A. Kifowit Democrat Yea
Sue Scherer Democrat Yea
Suzanne M. Ness Democrat Yea
Thaddeus Jones Democrat Yea
Theresa Mah Democrat Yea
Tracy Katz Muhl Democrat Yea
Will Guzzardi Democrat Yea
William "Will" Davis Democrat Yea
Yolonda Morris Democrat Yea
Adam M. Niemerg Republican Nay
Amy Elik Republican Nay
Amy L. Grant Republican Not Voting
Blaine Wilhour Republican Nay
Brad Halbrook Republican Nay
Brad Stephens Republican Not Voting
Bradley Fritts Republican Nay
Brandun Schweizer Republican Nay
Charles Meier Republican Nay
Chris Miller Republican Nay
Christopher "C.D." Davidsmeyer Republican Nay
Dan Swanson Republican Nay
Daniel J. Ugaste Republican Nay
Dave Severin Republican Nay
David Friess Republican Nay
Dennis Tipsword Republican Nay
Jackie Haas Republican Nay
Jason R. Bunting Republican Nay
Jed Davis Republican Nay
Jeff Keicher Republican Nay
Jennifer Sanalitro Republican Nay
Joe C. Sosnowski Republican Nay
John M. Cabello Republican Nay
Kevin Schmidt Republican Not Voting
Kyle Moore Republican Nay
Martin McLaughlin Republican Nay
Michael J. Coffey, Jr. Republican Nay
Nicole La Ha Republican Nay
Norine K. Hammond Republican Nay
Patrick Sheehan Republican Nay
Patrick Windhorst Republican Nay
Regan Deering Republican Nay
Ryan Spain Republican Nay
Steven Reick Republican Nay
Tom Weber Republican Nay
Tony M. McCombie Republican Nay
Travis Weaver Republican Nay
Wayne A. Rosenthal Republican Not Voting
William E Hauter Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Higher Education

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 7001
Republican 4000
Total 11001
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (12)
Member Party Vote
Aarón M. Ortíz Democrat Yea
Barbara Hernandez Democrat Yea
Carol Ammons Democrat Not Voting
Diane Blair-Sherlock Democrat Yea
Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz Democrat Yea
Katie Stuart Democrat Yea
Sharon Chung Democrat Yea
Tracy Katz Muhl Democrat Yea
Dan Swanson Republican Yea
Daniel J. Ugaste Republican Yea
David Friess Republican Yea
Wayne A. Rosenthal Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB4420      do?
Amends the College Campus Press Act. Defines "public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning". Provides that all public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is a public forum for expression by the employees producing the media at the institution of higher learning. Provides that public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is not subject to prior review by public officials of the State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Allows an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning to commence a civil action to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court for violation of the Act by such State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that expression made by an employee or agent of an entity creating or distributing public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is neither expression of campus policy nor speech attributable to a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Provides that a State-sponsored institution of higher learning is immune from any lawsuit arising from expression actually made in public media produced at a State-sponsored institution of higher learning. Makes other changes.
Who sponsors HB4420     ?
HB4420      is sponsored by David Koehler, Karina Villa, Michael W. Halpin, Mary Edly-Allen, Steve Stadelman, Sharon Chung (Democrat), Jehan Gordon-Booth (Democrat), Gregg Johnson (Democrat), Katie Stuart (Democrat), and Emanuel "Chris" Welch (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB4420     ?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 14, 2026. It awaits signature.
Where can I track HB4420     ?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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