Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Lawmakers at the Capitol have approved two proposed laws that could end up making filing for college student aid easier and more convenient.

The measures going to the Governor’s desk would require each high school to have one person designated as a point of contact for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Another requires high schools to provide such aid to students in a variety of ways.

“I grew up as the eldest daughter in an immigrant household.  There was five of us,” said State Sen. Graciela Guzman (D-Chicago).  “It was incumbent on me to fill out the FAFSA on my own, and help my siblings navigate FAFSA.”

Guzman says at the time being seventeen, the process was, as she put it, really difficult, and really confusing, especially as a first-generation college student, but also really important to get right. She says the legislation tell students they don’t have to do it alone anymore.

“Last year provided us with a very good, bad example,” said Jacqueline Moreno, Chief Service Officer, Illinois Student Assistance Commission.  “The federal rollout of the FAFSA was challenging to say the least, and we did not have an easy way to get information to schools quickly, so they could get information to students quickly.”

The bills are HB 3096 and HB 3097.