Illinois Governor Pritzker Signs Law Mandating Universal Student Mental Health Screenings

Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1560 into law, making Illinois the first state to require universal mental health screenings for students in grades three through twelve, starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The law mandates that public schools offer age-appropriate, confidential mental health screenings at least once annually, with parents retaining the right to opt their children out. The Illinois State Board of Education will provide resources, model policies, and free screening tools to schools to support implementation by September 2026. Advocates, including student mental health advocate Abhinav Anne and local officials, hailed the law as a significant step toward addressing the mental health crisis among youth and reducing stigma around seeking help. The initiative is part of the broader Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, which also includes the BEACON Portal, a centralized resource for behavioral health services developed in partnership with Google Public Sector. While the legislation received bipartisan support, some Republican lawmakers expressed concerns about the opt-out process and called for more transparency regarding screening content and outcomes.