Chambana Sun

Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is pushing for legislation to help children and families save money to access higher education.

House Bill 573 seeks to improve the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program.

"This program gives families the opportunity to start planning for higher education from day one," Bennett said in a May 5 Facebook post. "All children deserve the opportunity to thrive, and this program is an investment in our children’s futures."

Established as part of the Illinois treasurer’s existing Bright Start and Bright Directions programs, the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program was signed into law in 2019. Under the program, the Illinois treasurer will automatically deposit $50 into college savings account for every child born or adopted in the state after Dec. 31, 2020.

To help the state prepare to begin enrolling children in the program beginning in 2021, the new legislation will require the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide the state treasurer with information on recent births and adoptions in the state as well as information on tax filers claiming dependents or the adoption tax credit.

The legislation also adjusts program eligibility to children born on or after Jan. 1, 2023, in acknowledgment of the lack of funding and legislative appropriation as a result of COVID-19.

House Bill 573 now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.