Capitol Watch
Below you will find links to detailed information about the status of current education-related bills in the Legislature. Click on the bill number to access the Illinois General Assembly website containing full text and all actions associated with the bill. Those bills identified with an asterisk* are IEA initiatives.
| Bill # | Description | Position | Topic | Status | Fact Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB 13 | Privatizes public services, freezes local revenue | Opposed | Other | Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) Referred to Assignments | |
| SB 261 | Provides school districts the discretion to use their transportation funding to assist homeless students and their families with rental or mortgage insurance. | Support | Other | Referred to Assignments | |
| HB 768* | This initiative would create a charter school application process where only locally elected school boards and parents could decide if a charter school is good for their community. The amendment allows a charter applicant to appeal to the courts under judicial review if it is believed the application review process was not performed as outlined in statute. | Support | Charter Schools & Vouchers | Total Veto Stands | Fact Sheet |
| SB 1740 | Transitions from a four-rating evaluation system to a two-rating system (ineffective (UNS)/Effective (NI, PROF & EXC)). Converts prior evaluations to new two-rating system. Reduces the number of RIF groups from four to three. Eliminates the 4th group for "excellent" performing educators and subcategories in 2nd group. Removes the mandate that student growth be a part of a teacher's evaluation in 2018-19 school year. Allows it if district and union agree. Requires the PERA joint committee to meet at least once annually and changes its work from student growth to ongoing improvement of evaluation plans and development of PD opportunities. Requires each district to locally bargain an appeals process for teachers receiving an ineffective rating. | No Position | PERA | Re-referrerd to Assignments | |
| HB 3022 | Transitions from a four-rating evaluation system to a two-rating system (ineffective (UNS)/Effective (NI, PROF & EXC)). Converts prior evaluations to new two-rating system. Reduces the number of RIF groups from four to three. Eliminates the 4th group for "excellent" performing educators and subcategories in 2nd group. Removes the mandate that student growth be a part of a teacher's evaluation in 2018-19 school year. Allows it if district and union agree. Requires the PERA joint committee to meet at least once annually and changes its work from student growth to ongoing improvement of evaluation plans and development of PD opportunities. Requires each district to locally bargain an appeals process for teachers receiving an ineffective rating. | No Position | PERA | Re-referred to Rules Committee | |
| HR 27 | States the opinion that the proposed educational pension cost shift from the State of Illinois to local school districts, community colleges, and institutions of higher education is financially wrong | Support | Other | Re-referred to Rules Committee | Fact Sheet |
| HR 38 | States the opinion that the proposed educational pension cost shift from the State of Illinois to local school districts, community colleges, and institutions of higher education is financially wrong | Support | Other | Re-referred to Rules Committee | Fact Sheet |
| SB 16 | Unconstitutional pension benefit cuts to IEA members in TRS and SURS - bill also impacts IMRF | Opposed | Pensions | Re-referred to Rules Committee | Fact Sheet |
| HB 4027 | Unconstitutional pension benefit cuts to IEA members in TRS and SURS - bill also impacts IMRF | Opposed | Pensions | Re-referred to Rules Committee | Fact Sheet |
| HB 4045 | Constitutional/voluntary pension legislation that does not force members in IMRF, TRS or SURS to diminish their pensions - creates a Tier 3 option for future participants | Neutral | Pensions | Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) Referred to Assignments | Fact Sheet |
| SR 545 | States the opinion that the proposed educational pension cost shift from the State of Illinois to local school districts, community colleges, and institutions of higher education is financially wrong | Support | Pensions | Referred to Assignments | Fact Sheet |
| SB 1905 | Collective Bargaining Freedom Act | Support | Other | Total Veto Stands | |
| HR 542 | Urges US Congress to fix the Windfall Elimination Provision WEP | Support | Pensions | Re-referred to Rules Committee | |
| SB 851 | Would freeze property tax extensions for districts reducing revenue that is used to fund our public schools | Opposed | Other | Re-referred to Rules Committee | Fact Sheet |
| HJR 83 | Urges those in government to commit to working to change the culture that breeds sexual harassment | Support | Other | Adopted Both Houses | |
| HJR 86 | Urges those in state government to commit to working to change the culture of racism within state government | Support | Other | Adopted Both Houses | |
| HB 4209 | Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, each school board must establish a kindergarten with full-day attendance | Support | Other | Re-referred to Rules Committee | |
| SB 2527 | Would allow any number of students, to take any number of courses, online. The IEA opposes state funded home schooling programs. Furthermore, the intent of this legislation is to force a district to offer courses it no longer chooses or can’t provide. If a school district cannot provide that instruction a door would be opened to allow an outside online company to be contracted by the district. | Opposed | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading | |
| SB 2855 | With regard to class sizes of general education classes for special education students and special education classes for special education students, provides that the State Board of Education shall have no authority to adopt any administrative rules that establish or limit the class size or ratio of the student population of a general education class for students receiving services in general education classes or a special education class beyond what may be required by federal rule or law, unless the State Board of Education fully funds the cost of additional teachers and other staff that are required by a class-size limitation; defines "special education class". | Opposed | Other | Re-referred to Assignments | |
| SB 2545 | Protects collective bargaining strategy meetings from falling under the Open Meetings Act | Support | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading | |
| SB 2838 | Allows school districts to contract with a substitute teacher “clearing house” when a substitute teacher shortage exists and all other avenues have been exhausted | Support | Substitute Shortage | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading | |
| SB 2892* | Sets the minimum starting salary for a teacher in Illinois at $40,000 | Support | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading | Fact Sheet |
| HB 5175* | Sets the minimum starting salary for a teacher in Illinois at $40,000 | Support | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading | Fact Sheet |
| HB 4755* | Requires a percentage of school custodial staff to be licensed by the state in pest control and pesticide application | Support | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading | |
| HB 4768* | Makes substantive changes to Illinois School Board Oath, with a focus on students and education | Support | Other | Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education Licensing Administration & Oversight | |
| SB 3157* | Provides that each qualified teacher is entitled to an income tax credit in an aggregate amount equal to 50% of the tuition costs incurred by that teacher at a public university in the state. The teacher must have graduated from a public university in the state, must currently be a teacher, and been employed as a teacher in the state for at least five consecutive years. | Support | Other | Senate Assigned to Revenue | Fact Sheet |
| SB 3181* | Would allow an active member to establish TRS credit for up to two years of service as a teacher or administrator employed by a private school recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education | Support | Pensions | Subcommittee on Special Issues | |
| SB 3593 | Requires law enforcement drill that includes active shooter scenario | Support | School Safety | Referred to Assignments | |
| HB 4243 | Provides that no public funds, including, but not limited to, funds appropriated for the pay and allowances of members of the General Assembly, shall be used to create a payout of money to any person involved with and relevant to allegations and investigations of sexual harassment by a member of the General Assembly. | Support | Other | Passed House 113-000-000 Referred to Assignments in Senate | |
| HB 5696 | Creates the Bridge Program for Underrepresented Students Act. Provides that each public university in this State may establish a Bridge Program for underrepresented students. | Support | Higher Ed | Referred to Assignments | |
| SB 3058 | Creates the Bridge Program for Underrepresented Students Act. Provides that each public university in this State may establish a Bridge Program for underrepresented students. | Support | Higher Ed | Postponed Higher Education | |
| SB 3109 | Ensures that no one will be denied a teacher, lawyer, doctor, nurse, or social worker license (or various other professional licenses) solely because of his or her citizenship or immigration status | Support | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading | |
| SB 2925 | Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall develop or approve a curriculum for a certified training program for school resource officers | Support | Trauma Informed | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading | |
| HB 4742 | Allows school districts to contract with a substitute teacher “clearing house” when a substitute teacher shortage exists and all other avenues have been exhausted | Support | Substitute Shortage | Place on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading | |
| HR 795 | Commits the General Assmebly to prioritize school climate and culture and urges the General Assembly to support schools in obtaining and sustaining the resources, trainings and ongoing professional development to promote positive and supportive school climates and cultures | Support | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of Resolutions | |
| HJR 115 | Reaffirms Illinois’ commitment to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline by urging the U.S. DOE not to rescind guidance that helps public schools address student discipline without discriminating | Support | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of Resolutions | |
| SB 404 | Consolidates the IELRB and ILRB | Opposed | Other | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading | |
| HR 975 | Opposes the implementation of a graduated income tax in Illinois | Opposed | Revenue | Referred to Rules Committee | |
| SB 2546 | Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. It provides that the term "student" within the definition of "educational employee" or "employee" as used in the Act includes (rather than excludes) graduate students who are teaching assistants primarily performing duties that involve the delivery and support of instruction and all other graduate students. | Support | Higher Ed | Passed Senate 034-019-000 Referred to Rules Committee in House |