CHICAGO —Two measures co-sponsored by State Senator Graciela Guzmán to secure more supports for high school students when applying for college and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA, were signed into law recently.

“Growing up as the eldest daughter in an immigrant household, it was incumbent on me to fill out the FAFSA forms myself, and navigate this difficult and confusing process alone at 17 years old,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “By establishing time for students to fill out their FAFSA during school, we are giving working students more opportunities to be able to fill out this form and get questions answered.”

House Bill 3096 requires high schools to designate a member of their staff to serve as a point of contact for students on matters concerning the application. This creates clarity on who young people can turn to if they have questions or need assistance with the process.  

Additionally, House Bill 3097 requires that schools provide time during the school day for students to fill out or ask questions about their financial aid applications. Each school may determine how they will provide this time, whether it is included in personal finance classes, offered in one-on-one sessions, or focused workshops, but any method would give students more time to work on these important applications and help set them up for future success. 

Guzmán  was proud to co-sponsor both bills, which were led by State Senator Javier Cervantes in the Senate and in partnership with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). 

“The form is intended to give more students a chance of pursuing higher education,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “We should be doing everything we can to make sure it is as accessible as possible for people to complete, and this measure is a simple step to make completing it easier.” 

House Bills 3096 and 3097 were signed into law on Monday, June 30. They are effective immediately.