HB2997Introduced in the House
SCH CD-ARAB AMERICAN HISTORY
Introduced by Abdelnasser Rashid, District 21
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Arab American history, including the history of Arab Americans in this State and the Midwest, as well as the contributions of Arab Americans from the 19th century onward. Effective immediately.
Where it stands
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
March 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
HouseStage: Third Reading in House · April 10, 2025
67
Yes
35
No
10
Absent or Not Voting
112 representatives recorded in this House vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
What do people think?
Citizen Voice
How would you vote on this bill?
An unofficial public opinion poll. It does not affect the bill or the official vote.
One response per device. Location is self-reported and not verified. Results are informal and not a scientific survey.
See how each representative voted
| Representative | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Ortiz | 1 | Yes |
| Elizabeth Hernandez | 2 | Yes |
| Eva Dina Delgado | 3 | Yes |
| Lilian Jimenez | 4 | Yes |
| Kimberly Du Buclet | 5 | Yes |
| Sonya Harper | 6 | Yes |
| Emanuel Welch | 7 | Yes |
| LaShawn Ford | 8 | Not Voting |
| Yolanda Morris | 9 | Not Voting |
| Jawaharial Williams | 10 | Not Voting |
Bill history
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Assigned to Education Policy Committee
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch
Do Pass / Short Debate Education Policy Committee; 009-004-000
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Amy Elik
State Mandates Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Amy Elik
Second Reading - Short Debate
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
Fiscal Note Filed
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Education Policy Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Education Policy Committee; 009-004-000
House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
Note / Motion Filed - Note Act Does Not Apply Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
Motion Prevailed 070-038-000
State Mandates Fiscal Note Request is Inapplicable
Fiscal Note Request is Inapplicable
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Nabeela Syed
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Sonya M. Harper
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Lilian Jiménez
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Robert "Bob" Rita
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Norma Hernandez
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Anne Stava
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 067-035-000
Arrive in Senate
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham
First Reading
Referred to Assignments
Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Mike Porfirio
Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Bill Cunningham
Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Willie Preston
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane L. Johnson
Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Thaddeus Jones
Assigned to Education
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 23, 2025
Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As June 1, 2025
Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah
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