South Cook News

A new bill authored by State Rep. Rick Ryan in the Illinois House seeks to establish programs preparing high school juniors and seniors for workforce entry, further education, or military service, according to the Illinois State House.

The bill, introduced as HB4145 on Oct. 6, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, was summarized by the state legislature as follows: "Creates the Graduate Readiness and Development Act. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules and guidelines for an exit orientation program for grade 11 and 12 students to prepare the students to enter the workforce, obtain marketable skills, or enroll in higher education or military service. Requires the school board of each school district operating a high school to annually host an exit orientation program that complies with the rules and guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education under the Act. Provides that the school board shall permit representatives of labor organizations, military branches, workforce training providers, vocational training providers, local chambers of commerce, banks, and private businesses to present information on jobs, training, apprenticeships, internships, jobs requiring certification, and related topics to students during a high school's exit orientation program. Requires each Illinois workNet Center to ensure that the exit orientation program of each high school in its local area is aligned with the needs and opportunities of the local labor market and to provide the school board of the school district that operates the high school with information on local labor market needs and assist with coordinating participation in the program by local chambers of commerce, private businesses, and others."

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

In essence, the bill establishes the Graduate Readiness and Development Act, requiring the Illinois State Board of Education to create rules for exit orientation programs for 11th and 12th-grade students to prepare for entering the workforce, gaining skills, or pursuing higher education or military service. It mandates each school district with a high school to hold such programs annually, allowing representatives from labor organizations, military, and various training providers to share information on jobs, internships, and more. The programs must align with local labor market needs, with assistance from Illinois workNet Centers in providing relevant information and coordinating participant involvement. Programs must offer insights into student loans, grants, vocational opportunities, voter registration, military enlistment, local job opportunities, healthcare resources, financial literacy, and more, with events scheduled in September or October.

Ryan has proposed another five bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

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.

Ryan graduated from DePaul University in 1989 with a BA and again in 1992 from John Marshall Law School with a JD.

Ryan, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2025 to represent the state's 36th House District, replacing previous state representative Kelly M. Burke.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB4145	10/06/2025	Creates the Graduate Readiness and Development Act. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules and guidelines for an exit orientation program for grade 11 and 12 students to prepare the students to enter the workforce, obtain marketable skills, or enroll in higher education or military service. Requires the school board of each school district operating a high school to annually host an exit orientation program that complies with the rules and guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education under the Act. Provides that the school board shall permit representatives of labor organizations, military branches, workforce training providers, vocational training providers, local chambers of commerce, banks, and private businesses to present information on jobs, training, apprenticeships, internships, jobs requiring certification, and related topics to students during a high school's exit orientation program. Requires each Illinois workNet Center to ensure that the exit orientation program of each high school in its local area is aligned with the needs and opportunities of the local labor market and to provide the school board of the school district that operates the high school with information on local labor market needs and assist with coordinating participation in the program by local chambers of commerce, private businesses, and others.
HB4077	06/30/2025	Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that when a child with a disability that substantially impairs the child's ability to make independent decisions regarding parental relationships reaches the age of majority, the court may allocate parenting time by considering the specified factors as modified by the child's capacity's and expressed preferences.
HB3479	02/07/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality with 500 or more residents owns, operates, or maintains an ambulance department, then the municipality shall not cease the operation and maintenance of the ambulance department without a referendum. Provides that, if a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of dissolving the ambulance department, then the court shall enter an order discontinuing the ambulance department. Provides that the rights of the employees of the dissolved ambulance department provided by the Personnel Code, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by the amendatory Act. Limits home rule powers.
HB3313	02/06/2025	Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in any action seeking damages for personal injury against an operator of a motor vehicle, no discovery may be taken by the plaintiff if the total damages sought is equal to or less than the amount of minimum liability insurance required by the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that in such cases, each party must disclose to all other parties all documents each party intends to introduce into evidence at trial. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to actions commenced or pending on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act.
HB3314	02/06/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the assessed value of residential property in any general assessment year shall not exceed the assessed value of the property in the last general assessment year multiplied by one plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month calendar year immediately preceding the general assessment year for which the reassessment is conducted. Provides that the limitation does not apply if the increase in assessment is attributable to an addition, improvement, or modification to the property. Preempts the power of home rule units to tax. Effective immediately.
HB2732	02/05/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the maximum amount for the credit for instructional materials and supplies shall be $500 for each semester in the taxable year for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026 (currently, $500 per taxable year). Effective immediately.