NW Illinois News

Tony M. McCombie introduced HB2802 in the Illinois House on Feb. 5, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that a female student in any of grades 6 through 12 who is participating in an educational program in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, subject to guidelines established by the State Board of Education, shall be permitted by a school board to have one school-day-long, excused absence per school year to participate in an externship or volunteer opportunity with an Illinois organization in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Provides that the school board may require that the student provide reasonable advance notice of the intended absence to the appropriate school administrator and require that the student provide documentation of the participation in an externship or volunteer opportunity to the appropriate school administrator."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the Illinois School Code to allow female students in grades 6 through 12 who are involved in educational programs focusing on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) to have one school-day-long, excused absence per school year. This absence is designated for participation in an externship or volunteer opportunity with an Illinois organization in the STEAM fields. The school board may require that students provide reasonable advance notice of the intended absence and documentation of participation in the externship or volunteer opportunity to the appropriate school administrator. This measure aims to support practical learning experiences for female students in STEAM programs.

Tony M. McCombie has proposed another 413 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

McCombie graduated from Western Illinois University in 1996 with a BA.

Tony M. McCombie is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 89th House District. He replaced previous state representative Andrew Chesney 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
HB2802	02/05/2025	Amends the Compulsory Attendance Article of the School Code. Provides that a female student in any of grades 6 through 12 who is participating in an educational program in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, subject to guidelines established by the State Board of Education, shall be permitted by a school board to have one school-day-long, excused absence per school year to participate in an externship or volunteer opportunity with an Illinois organization in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Provides that the school board may require that the student provide reasonable advance notice of the intended absence to the appropriate school administrator and require that the student provide documentation of the participation in an externship or volunteer opportunity to the appropriate school administrator.
HB2798	02/05/2025	Amends the Use Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the State Finance Act. Provides for a sales tax holiday on school supplies during the first 7 days of August of each calendar year. Effective immediately.
HB2799	02/05/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that a copy of any nomination paper, certificate of nomination, or petition for a public question filed with an election authority for an immediately succeeding election shall be provided by the election authority within 48 hours after a written request is received by the election authority. Provides that a requester shall not be required to submit a request under the Freedom of Information Act. Effective immediately.
HB2800	02/05/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk or board of election commissioners shall complete the validation and counting of provisional ballots within 7 calendar days (currently, 14 calendar days) of the day of the election. Makes conforming changes.
HB2801	02/05/2025	Amends the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall compile and disseminate annually a list of Illinois organizations offering externships, internships, and volunteer opportunities to young women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Provides that each school board shall post the list disseminated by the State Board of Education in a location easily accessible to students.
HB2803	02/05/2025	Amends the Election Code. Provides that ballots must be received by the election authority before the closing of the polls on election day (rather than returned to the election authority postmarked no later than election day). Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB2804	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that in addition to any other penalties provided by law, a person knowingly and unlawfully selling or dispensing any scheduled drug containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is guilty of a Class X felony and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 9 years and not more than 40 years or fined not more than $250,000, or both. Provides that it is a Class 1 felony for which a fine not to exceed $100,000 may be imposed for any person to knowingly use an electronic communication device in the furtherance of controlled substance trafficking involving a substance containing any amount of fentanyl. Provides that this penalty shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by law. Provides that in addition to any other penalties imposed, not less than 6 years and not more than 30 years shall be imposed with respect to any amount of carfentanil or fentanyl, or any analog thereof, in excess of 150 milligrams that is stored or transmitted as a powder, blotter paper, tablet, patch, or spray. Provides that in addition to any other penalties imposed, with respect to fentanyl, or an analog thereof, an additional sentence of 5 years shall be imposed if the fentanyl or analog thereof is in a form that resembles, or was mixed, granulated, absorbed, adsorbed, spray-dried, aerosolized as or onto, coated on in whole or in part, or solubilized with or into, a product, where the product or its packaging further has at least one of the following attributes: (1) a resemblance to the trade dress of a consumer food product, branded food product, or logo food product, or incorporates an actual or satirical version of a registered trademark, service mark, or copyright; (2) a bright color or coloring scheme; (3) the appearance of a cereal, candy, vitamin, gummy, or chewable product such as a gum or gelatin-based product; (4) a cartoon character imprint; or (5) incorporation into a separate product or package approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or approved by a regulatory agency for food or drug products in another country, if the addition of fentanyl, carfentanil, or any analog thereof, would render the approved product an adulterated product under the standards of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or any law of this State or administrative rule. Defines "electronic communication device".
HB2805	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In a provision requiring policies of group accident and health insurance to provide coverage for certain examination and testing services provided to a victim of specified criminal offenses, prohibits the policy from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement on the coverage provided, except to the extent that the coverage would disqualify a high-deductible health plan from eligibility for a health savings account under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB2806	02/05/2025	Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish, implement, and administer a STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program, using funds appropriated from the STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program Fund, for the purpose of offering scholarships to young women pursuing degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at public universities in this State. Sets forth provisions concerning eligibility, preference and priority, the assistance awarded, funding, and rulemaking. Creates the STEM Opportunity Scholarship Program Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Makes a corresponding change in the State Finance Act.
HB2861	02/05/2025	Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that, on or after January 1, 2026 and prior to January 1, 2027, the first $100,000 in liability is exempt from the franchise tax payable by domestic corporations. Provides that, in the case of a domestic corporation, no payment is required for a franchise tax that would have been due and payable on or after January 1, 2027. Repeals the provision concerning franchise taxes payable by domestic corporations on January 1, 2027. Effective immediately.
HB2339	01/30/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, if the Department of Natural Resources is using its sharpshooting program to manage chronic wasting disease in a deer herd that is found in a specified area or county in the State and if no cases of that disease have been identified in that herd in the preceding 3 calendar years, then the Department shall end the use of that program to manage that disease in that area or county. Provides, however, that the program may be reinstituted within the area or county if chronic wasting disease is again identified in that herd.
HB2340	01/30/2025	Amends the Wildlife Code. Authorizes the issuance of landowner deer, turkey, and combination permits to landowners, resident tenants, and bona fide equity shareholders, members, or partners with at least 20 acres in a county where the Department of Natural Resources has positively identified chronic wasting disease cases in the deer herd (rather than 40 acres of land).
HB1939	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1940	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Arts Council for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1941	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Attorney General for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1942	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Auditor General for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1943	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Elections for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1944	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Board of Higher Education for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1945	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Architect of the Capitol for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1946	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Capital Development Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1947	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Capital Development Board for FY26 capital projects. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1948	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Commission on Equity and Inclusion for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1949	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Civil Service Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1950	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Central Management Services for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1951	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1952	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Comptroller for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1953	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1954	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Court of Claims for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1955	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1956	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Chicago State University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1957	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1958	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family Services for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1959	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1960	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1961	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Agriculture for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1962	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Rights for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1963	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Juvenile Justice for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1964	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Labor for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1965	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Military Affairs for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1966	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Insurance for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1967	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Revenue for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1968	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois State Police for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1969	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1970	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Employment Security for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1971	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1972	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1973	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1974	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1975	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Drycleaner Environmental Response Trust Fund Council for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1976	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1977	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Eastern Illinois University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1978	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Environmental Protection Agency for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1979	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Executive Ethics Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1980	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Attorney General for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1981	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Comptroller for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1982	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Governor for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1983	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Secretary of State for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1984	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Treasurer for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1985	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Finance Authority for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1986	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Early Childhood for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1987	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1988	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Gaming Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1989	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the General Assembly Retirement System for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1990	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the General Assembly for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1991	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1992	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Governor for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1993	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Governors State University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1994	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Human Rights Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1995	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Community College Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1996	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Commerce Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1997	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Transportation for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1998	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB1999	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2000	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2001	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Power Agency for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2002	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2003	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Innovation and Technology for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2004	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2005	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Illinois State University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2006	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2007	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Judges Retirement System of Illinois for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2008	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Judicial Inquiry Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2009	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Labor Relations Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2010	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2011	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Legislative Audit Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2012	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Legislative Ethics Commission for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2013	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Legislative Information System for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2014	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Legislative Printing Unit for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2015	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Legislative Reference Bureau for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2016	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2017	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Northeastern Illinois University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2018	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Northern Illinois University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2019	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Procurement Policy Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2020	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Property Tax Appeal Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2021	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Racing Board for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2022	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the State Employees' Retirement System for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2023	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to Southern Illinois University for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2024	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2025	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Office of the Secretary of State for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.
HB2026	01/29/2025	Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025.