Governor Pritzker said the package of bills he signed into law aims to make it cheaper and easier for high school students to apply to college.
"In order to ensure that every student of every background in every corner of our state gets the education they deserve, we need to leave no stone unturned and no barrier unbroken," he said.
Pritzker signed four bills into law, including HB 3522, which implements the Public University Direct Admission Program, which streamlines the admissions process, eliminates unnecessary application fees and expands access to postsecondary education through a new direct admissions program.
"The Public University Direct Admission Program Act wil now give pre-qualified students in Illinois admission to our public universities and community colleges without all the hassles of applications and fees," he said.
He also said students will be proactively notified of their admission and given instructions on how to accept their offers.
He also signed into law HB 2967, which expands dual credit opportunities.
State senator Cristina Castro said this promotes equity and access for high school students across the state.
"Investing in a more seamless path for high school to college makes it more attainable, especially for first-generation and lower-income students," she said. "Finishing high school and knowing you're already earned college credit can open the doors to a meaningful experience in high education and beyond."
Lastly, Pritzker passed legislation that will require a FAFSA Point-of-Contact in schools, as well as require FAFSA assistance options during school hours.
He said these bills remove barriers so that all students can have access to the education they deserve, no matter their background.
"Higher education should be about growth and the opportunity to build a better life," he said. "It should not be about piling on debt and mountains of paperwork. We're make it cheaper and easier to go to college"
At the press conference Pritzker also answered questions about the process of picking a someone to replace the state's two-term lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton. who is running for U.S. Senate.
Pritzker announced Thursday that he would be seeking a third term as Illinois governor. He said he has already heard about several interested candidates for the second-in-command.
"Mostly there have been people who have reached out to me to let me know about people they want to advocate for," he said. "That's really all there's been, but terrific people recommended to me, a number of excellent candidates to choose from."
Whoever gets the job might also have to prepare to take on larger role, with rumors swirling that Pritzker could run for President in 2028.
This means the lieutenant governor would take over the final two years of the governor’s four-year term, should Pritzker win the presidency.
Pritzker described his list of criteria for a running mate to reporters.
"I start out with the question, 'Is this person qualified to be governor of the state?' because that's really the question we're asking when we choose a lieutenant governor," he said. "And then a question about has this person demonstrated that they care deeply as much as people who live in areas they don't live in or who have different views than they do?"