Governor Signs HB 3385: Licensed Mental Health Professionals Required on Illinois Campuses

On August 15 at 3 p.m., Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 3385 into law, a landmark piece of legislation that will take effect January 1, 2026. This new law requires that all Illinois institutions of higher education, including our community colleges, provide licensed clinical counselors, social workers, or other mental health professionals on campus.

This victory builds on the foundation of the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act, turning legislative promise into meaningful practice. Where earlier laws left room for interpretation (and sometimes for institutions to cut corners) HB 3385 makes the expectation crystal clear: if you serve students, you must also provide on-campus, in-person mental health support by trained professionals.

The Need Is Urgent & Personal

Across Illinois, students are facing record levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Too often, when they reach out for help, they are met with a phone number, a waitlist, or a remote service. That isn’t enough.

Licensed clinical counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals are not just crisis responders. They are prevention leaders, running workshops, collaborating with faculty, and creating a campus culture where seeking help is seen as strength. Their visible, daily presence reassures students that they are not alone and that support is available right now from someone they trust, face to face.

A Healthier Future for Illinois Students

With HB 3385, Illinois is making an investment in student success that goes beyond grades and GPAs. True academic achievement is rooted in mental wellness and emotional resilience, and this law ensures that every student in our state will have access to the professionals they need to navigate life’s toughest moments.

A Win for Our Union and Our Partners

This legislative milestone also demonstrates the power of political work by the Cook County College Teachers Union (CCCTU). Our members’ advocacy helped shape HB 3385, and our Committee on Political Education (COPE) provided the resources and strategy that made it possible to turn vision into law.

We especially want to thank Representative Norma Hernandez, who sponsored the bill in the Illinois House, and Senator Karina Villa, the chief sponsor in the Senate. Their leadership and commitment were essential to getting this bill across the finish line.

This victory was also made possible by the strength of a broad coalition. Groups like Young Invincibles, NAMI Illinois, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and the Illinois Education Association joined forces with legislators and campus advocates to push for change. Together, we made the case that student success depends on access to licensed counselors—and together, we won.

Special Thanks to Our Members

• Shanya Gray, counselor at Moraine Valley, who testified in both the House and Senate in support of the bill.

• Leslie Wester, counselor and faculty chapter chair at Triton College, who first brought this issue to our attention and set the advocacy in motion.

• And to all of our members who submitted written testimony and witness slips in committee. You made your voices heard, and it mattered.

  
  

HB 3385 isn’t about compliance. It’s about care. And thanks to the commitment of our union, our allies, and our legislators, Illinois students will now have the support they need to thrive—in the classroom and beyond.