Illinois Rep. Mussman’s language assessment bill for deaf and hard of hearing children passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Michelle Mussman aims to establish a statewide program assessing language development for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children, seeking to enhance educational readiness and communication skills, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 71 Democrats and 34 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 40 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Mussman introduced the bill in the Illinois House on Jan. 27, 2025 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as HB1783, was passed on May 19, 2026 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Creates the Language Equality Acquisition for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind Children Act. Provides that the State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission and the Department of Human Services, shall establish a language assessment program for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children, and select language developmental milestones. Sets forth provisions concerning the scope and purpose of the program and the development of a resource for use by parents and guardians. Provides that the State Board, in cooperation with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission and the Department of Human Services, shall select tools or assessments for educators that can be used to assess the language and literacy development of all deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children. Sets forth provisions concerning the tools or assessments. Provides that beginning on July 1, 2026, a language assessment shall be given to each child who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and who is less than 6 years of age. Sets forth provisions concerning the assessment. Provides that an advisory committee on language assessment programs shall be established by the State Board, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, and the Department of Human Services. Sets forth the membership and duties of the advisory committee. Provides that on or before July 1, 2026, the State Board, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, and the Department of Human Services shall publish a joint action plan and may propose legislation and rules necessary to implement the recommendations of the advisory committee. Sets forth provisions concerning reporting and rulemaking. Effective immediately.”

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

In essence, this bill, named the Language Equality Acquisition for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind Children Act, mandates the establishment of a language assessment program in Illinois, effective immediately. The State Board of Education, along with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission and the Department of Human Services, will collaborate to create a program to evaluate the language needs and development milestones of children up to five years old in these communities. By July 1, 2026, the bill requires a language assessment for each affected child under six. An advisory committee will guide the development of resources for parents and educators. The measure includes provisions for tracking progress, public reporting, and coordination of services, all designed to enhance language acquisition and educational readiness using tools pertinent to American Sign Language and English. The bill aims to ensure the preparation of these children for school, fostering communication skills essential for their education and future independence. The agencies involved have the authority to propose new rules and potentially suggest legislative changes by that date.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock (Democrat-46th District), Rep. Edgar González, Jr. (Democrat-23rd District), and Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (Democrat-41st District), along with four other sponsors.

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.

Mussman graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BS.

Mussman, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2011 to represent the state’s 56th House District, replacing previous state representative Paul Froehlich.

Lawmakers listed as “Not Voting” were present for the vote but did not cast a vote. Those marked as having an “Excused Absence” were not present and formally provided a reason for their absence, which was accepted.