State Rep. Aarón Ortíz, D-Chicago, is working to make community college programs more accessible and affordable for in-state adult learners, passing House Bill 5135 out of the House Higher Education Committee on Thursday to remove unnecessary restrictions on state funding. Ortíz’s House Bill 5135 removes the maximum reimbursement rate per credit hour for community colleges, allowing for more tuition assistance to flow to in-state adult learners pursuing their education.  Currently, state adult education fund rules unnecessarily follow federal requirements found in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other regulations. Ortíz’s plan would remove the state from this self-imposed restriction, providing greater flexibility to prioritize adult learner funding. House Bill 5135 passed out of committee on Thursday, and will head to the House floor for consideration.  For more information, visit ILGA.gov.