Dan Swanson, State Representative for 71st District | https://repswanson.com/about/
Dan Swanson, State Representative for 71st District | https://repswanson.com/about/
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Creates the Educational Credit for Firefighting Experience Act. Provides that before June 1, 2027, each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy regarding its awarding of academic credit for firefighter training considered applicable to the requirements of a student's certificate or degree program. Requires the policy to apply to any individual who is enrolled in the institution of higher education and who has completed a firefighting training course or program that meets certain requirements. Provides that each institution of higher education shall develop a procedure for receiving the necessary documentation, provide a copy of its policy to certain applicants, and develop and maintain a list of qualifying firefighting training courses and programs. Provides that each institution of higher education shall submit its policy for awarding academic credit to the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, if applicable, before June 30, 2027 and before June 30 of each year thereafter. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall collect data in the Illinois Higher Education Information System on students who are firefighters to assess enrollment and completion outcomes."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill, known as the Educational Credit for Firefighting Experience Act, mandates that by June 1, 2027, institutions of higher education in Illinois must adopt policies to award academic credit for firefighter training that aligns with the requirements of a student's certificate or degree program. Institutions must consider training recommended for credit by a national higher education association or otherwise documented. They are required to establish procedures for verifying such training and provide policies to applicants with firefighting experience listed in their admission application. Institutions must annually update and submit these policies to the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board by March 31, incorporating them into existing credit for prior learning policies.
Dan Swanson has proposed one other bill since the beginning of the 104th session.
Swanson graduated from Black Hawk Junior College in 1986 with an AA and again in 1994 from Western Illinois University with a BA.
Dan Swanson is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 71st House District. He replaced previous state representative Donald L. Moffitt in 2023.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1149 | 01/09/2025 | Creates the Educational Credit for Firefighting Experience Act. Provides that before June 1, 2027, each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy regarding its awarding of academic credit for firefighter training considered applicable to the requirements of a student's certificate or degree program. Requires the policy to apply to any individual who is enrolled in the institution of higher education and who has completed a firefighting training course or program that meets certain requirements. Provides that each institution of higher education shall develop a procedure for receiving the necessary documentation, provide a copy of its policy to certain applicants, and develop and maintain a list of qualifying firefighting training courses and programs. Provides that each institution of higher education shall submit its policy for awarding academic credit to the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board, if applicable, before June 30, 2027 and before June 30 of each year thereafter. Provides that the Board of Higher Education shall collect data in the Illinois Higher Education Information System on students who are firefighters to assess enrollment and completion outcomes. |
| HB0046 | 01/09/2025 | Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Adds a provision that requires the Department of Early Childhood to make appropriate accommodations when an applicant for a license to operate a day care center, day care home, or group day care home requests that the application be offered in a language other than English. |
| HB1148 | 01/09/2025 | Amends the Grow Your Own Teacher Education Act. Transfers the powers and duties under the Act from the Board of Higher Education to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Replaces the requirement that the Board of Higher Education must contract annually for an independent evaluation of program implementation with the requirement that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission monitor and evaluate the implementation of the program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may elect to contract for an independent evaluation with an outside entity. Effective immediately. |
| HB1150 | 01/09/2025 | Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a taxing district fails to timely file an affidavit that is required to be filed with respect to exempt property, then, prior to terminating the exemption, the chief county assessment officer shall notify the taxing district by first-class mail that the chief county assessment officer has not received the affidavit. |
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