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. You can sort by clicking on the column header.
| Bill # | Description | Position | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB0089 | Further restricts tax capped districts from levying the revenue amount currently allowed in statute. | Opposed | Education Funding | Bill Failed |
| HB0310 | Amendment 1 creates a private school voucher program. Fact Sheet | Opposed | Charter Schools & Vouchers | Bill Failed |
| HB0494 | Creates a moratorium on the establishment of virtual charter schools. Fact Sheet | Support | Charter Schools & Vouchers | Passed House - Pending Senate Action |
| HB0980 | Requires school boards to fund charter schools at a rate of no less than 97% and no more than 100% of the district's per-pupil tuition, multiplied by the number of students attending the school. Currently, the allowable range is 75% to 125%. It further defines the level of education required for a nurse to make recommendations to the educational team regarding accommodations for students with special needs. | Opposed | Charter Schools & Vouchers | Not Called for Vote |
| HB1025 | Allows teachers to possess firearms at school and while commuting between their home and place of employment. | Opposed | Collective Bargaining | Not Called for Vote |
| HB1032 | Prohibits universities from bargaining tuition waivers with their employees. | Opposed | Higher Ed | Not Called for Vote |
| HB1154 | Cap on pensionable earnings | Opposed | Pensions | Postponed in Committee |
| HB1165 | Cuts the 3 percent automatic compounded Cost of Living Adjustments on annuities of more than $25,000. Delays COLAs until age 67 or five years after retirement (whichever comes later). It would apply to active and retired participants in all the pension systems except for judges. | Opposed | Pensions | Postponed in Committee |
| HB1166 | Would raise retirement age for employees 45 and under (Tier 1 only) | Opposed | Pensions | Postponed in Committee |
| HB1443 | Requires K-12 and university faculty, staff and volunteers to report hazing incidents. Charges these individuals with hazing if they have knowledge of hazing incident and don’t report. | No Position | Other Education Issues | Passed House |
| HB2689 | Provides that, once an agreement is reached (but prior to ratification) between a public or educational employer and its employees regarding the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, the agreement shall be reduced to writing and published on the website of the public or educational employer. Requires the public or educational employer (prior to ratification), not less than 14 days after publishing such an agreement, to hold an open public meeting on the ratification of that agreement allowing for public comment. | Opposed | Collective Bargaining | Failed in Committee |
| HB2762 | Lowers the compulsory school age from 7 years to 6 years. | Support | Other Education Issues | Passed House |
| HB2779 | Allows retired teachers to return to their districts and teach without a new criminal background check if certain conditions are met. | Support | Other Education Issues | Passed House |
| HB3162 | We Are One Illinois Coalition Pension Proposal. 1. Ironclad Funding Guarantee 2. Pension Stabilization Fund 3. Additional Member Commitment Fact Sheet | Support | Pensions | Not Called for Vote |
| HB3411 | Unilaterally cuts pension benefits for current and retired public school teachers, university staff, members of the General Assembly, and state employees. The legislation increases the age requirements for current participants under age 45, it reduces the retirement COLA for current retirees and future retirees, and requires active members to pay more for a reduced retirement benefit. Fact Sheet | Opposed | Pensions | In Committee |
| SB0001 | Unilaterally reduces pension benefits for current workers and retirees in all state retirement systems (TRS, SURS, SERS, GARS) except judges: Increases the retirement age for employees under 45 years old Cuts/Delays COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment), Increases employee contributions by 2% of salary, Caps pensionable salary for Tier I employees, Eliminates the subject of pensions for collective bargaining, Changes the effective rate of interest for SURS Supplemental contributions beginning in FY 20, Fails to provide for a solid contractual guarantee for the funding of the pension system Fact Sheet | Opposed | Pensions | Passed House - Pending Senate Action |
| SB0035 | Unilaterally cuts pension benefits for current and retired public school teachers, university staff, members of the General Assembly, and state employees. The legislation increases the age requirements for current participants under age 45, it reduces the retirement COLA for current retirees and future retirees, and requires active members to pay more for a reduced retirement benefit. Fact Sheet | Opposed | Pensions | Bill Failed |
| SB1248 | Creates a ten-year pilot program giving out vouchers for non-public Chicago elementary schools. The bill would also require principals in "low-performing and overcrowded public schools" to notify their students' guardians about the program and about the availability of private school vouchers. | Opposed | Charter Schools & Vouchers | Not Called for Vote |
| SB1307 | Lowers the compulsory school age from 7 to 5 years and establishes mandatory kindergarten in public schools for children 5 years or older. | Support | Other Education Issues | Pending Action |
| SB1366 | House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1366 - Early Retirement Option (ERO) Continuation Fact Sheet | Support | Other Education Issues | Passed Senate - Pending House Action |
| SB1877 | This is an initiative from the Classrooms First Commission by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon which reduces barriers to voluntary district reorganization. The bill contains the following three components: 1. Non-contiguous reorganization 2. Expedited dissolution under 750 enrollment 3. Delayed reorganization effective date. IEA is a member of the Classrooms First Commission. | Support | Other Education Issues | In Committee |
| SB2340 | District Intervention - states that the State Board shall require districts that have been on academic watch status for 3 years or more and that are within the lowest 5% in terms of performance in this State to seek accreditation through a national accreditation organization chosen by the State Board. The bill directs the State Superintendent to remove school board members in any district in which the district is unable to obtain accreditation in whole or in part due to reasons related to school board governance. The bill provides that upon removal of the school board, the State Superintendent shall establish an Independent Authority to operate the district. The State Superintendent shall appoint members to serve on the Independent Authority which will have all of the powers and duties of a school board and all other powers necessary to meet its responsibilities for the maintenance, operation, and development of any school or schools under the jurisdiction of the Independent Authority. | Neutral | Other Education Issues | Passed Senate - Pending House Action |
| SB2404 | We Are One Illinois Coalition Pension Proposal. 1. Ironclad Funding Guarantee 2. Pension Stabilization Fund 3. Additional Member Commitment Based on Benefit Choice Concept Fact Sheet | Support | Pensions | Passed Senate - Pending House Action |
| SJR0032 | Creates the General Assembly’s Advisory Committee on Education Funding. The committee's ask will be to conduct a comprehensive review of the current K-12 education funding system in Illinois and make recommendations for a more fair and adequate funding distribution method by Feb 1, 2014. | Support | Education Funding | Pending Senate Action |
Illinois Education Association is an association of more than 130,000 members composed of Illinois elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers.