CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) will serve as chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee in the 102nd General Assembly.

“I’m honored to have been appointed as chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee,” Bennett said. “Higher education in all forms is vital for the workforce and economy, and I’m eager to serve in this new role.”

The Senate Higher Education Committee primarily deals with legislation and policy that will affect both state and private institutions.

Bennett is a longtime advocate for higher education institutions and has worked on legislation to provide opportunities for all students to find a path towards a secondary education. The district Bennett represents includes the University of Illinois, Parkland College and Danville Area Community College, which has given him a deep understanding of the needs of Illinois schools, staff and students, as well as their surrounding communities.

As committee chair, Bennett aims to create an equitable, accessible and innovative higher education ecosystem across Illinois that ensures students and communities thrive.

Bennett has previously served as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Criminal Law Committee.