Ortíz Passes Bill Increasing Tuition Assistance to Community College Students

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Aarón Ortíz, D-Chicago, advanced a plan out of the House last week to make community college programs more affordable for in-state adult learners.

“Today’s development gets us one step closer to not only making community college more affordable, but also making a stable financial future more accessible to young adults,” Ortíz said. “How Illinois funds its community colleges should be up to Illinois, not federal rules that are holding us, and the young people of this state, back. We’ve got more work to get this to the governor’s desk, and I am excited to continue leading this effort.” 

Ortíz’s House Bill 5135 removes the maximum reimbursement rate per credit hour for community colleges, allowing for more tuition assistance to flow to in-state adult learners pursuing their education. 

Currently, state adult education fund rules unnecessarily reflect federal requirements found in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other regulations. Ortíz’s plan would remove the state from this self-imposed restriction, providing greater flexibility to prioritize adult learner funding.

House Bill 5135 passed out of the House on April 9, and now awaits consideration in the Senate. 

For more information, visit ILGA.gov.