Delivered via email: November 10, 2023
Bill Action This Final Week of Veto Session
November 7 began the final week of fall Veto Session for 2023. This is a time when lawmakers can override or accept the Governor’s vetoes or continue work on existing legislation before Spring Session begins in January. There were many young visitors at the Capitol urging officials to take action to extend the Invest In Kids Program with a few other hot topics that will carry over into the Spring Session.Bills That Passed Both Houses
HB2104 (Delgado/Villivalam) states that school boards may provide instruction in safety education regarding water safety for students enrolled in Pre-K through grade 6 that incorporates evidence-based water safety instructional materials and resources. The bill will be sent to the Governor’s desk for final action.SB0696 (Huynh/Aquino) Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. The bill codified language of getting local taxing body approval for 35-year and 47-year TIF extensions. House Amendment 3 removed the language codifying the current practice. The bill passed the House and will be sent to the Governor.
SB1988 (Castro/Burke) allows a county assessor in a county with over 3 million inhabitants (Cook County) to accept appeals from the taxpayer for a period of not less than 30 business days from the date the assessment notice was mailed or published on the assessor’s website (instead of 35 days). The bill will be sent to the Governor’s desk for final action.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
SB0689 HA2 (Simmons/Williams) outlines election guidelines for the CPS elected school board. This version allows 10 school board members to be elected and 10 to be appointed in 2024 with a full board being elected in 2026. The bill also outlines eligibility requirements. The bill is stalled in the Senate.SB2324 HA2 (Koehler/Williams) outlines further ethics requirements for CPS school board members to align with other school boards in the state. The bill passed the House 99-1 and was sent to the Senate for concurrence (approval from the Senate since the amendment was from the House). The legislation is only applicable if SB0689 passes in its entirety. The Senate did not act on the bill.
SB2610 (Martwick) would allow the CPS Board to set their own compensation by board resolution. This initiative stems from HB2908, which passed in July of 2021, and established the CPS elected school board. The bill was not heard and remains in Assignments Committee.
HB2233 (Hoffman/Harmon) outlines election guidelines for the CPS elected school board. With much debate in committee this week, Senate Amendments 2 and 3 were filed to allow all 20 members to be elected in 2024 with each member serving a two-year term and it also includes extended ethics guidelines for the elected board. Beginning in 2026, staggered terms will be enacted (two-year and four-year terms). The bill also creates The Black Student Achievement Committee to support the board. The bill passed the Senate 38-12. With the House already adjourned until January at the time of passage, they did not take up the legislation for a vote.
HB4221 (Williams) was filed November 7 and outlines that 10 members of the CPS school board shall be elected and 10 appointed in 2024, with a fully elected board in 2026. The bill also outlines staggering terms for the full board and eligibility requirements. The bill was not heard and remains in Rules Committee.
The Illinois Senate President released the following statement regarding the status of legislation impacting an elected school board for CPS. “The Illinois Senate is not going to consider an elected school board bill with woefully inadequate ethical provisions,” Senate President Don Harmon said via press release. The Senate President pointed to language in the bill that would impose “no prohibition on executives and employees of school district contractors and vendors being able to serve on the board,” even though that prohibition would apply to all other school districts in Illinois.
How the first fully elected Chicago Public Schools Board is elected remains a hot topic with a deadline of April 1, 2024, looming in the Spring.
Religious Dietary Food Act
HB3643 (Rashid/Villivalam), concerning the provision of religious dietary food in public schools, was vetoed by the Governor over the summer due to an issue with the State Board of Education (ISBE) not having capacity to support the vendor contracts needed to provide religious meals to students. No action was taken and the Governor’s veto stands.Senator Ram Villivalam filed SB0457 on the opening day of veto session in response to the veto of HB3643. This bill gives ISBE the funding to support the contracts, subject to appropriation. The bill passed the Senate 43-15 and arrived in the House on October 25, where it stalled and was not acted upon.
Invest in Kids
HB4194 (Guerrero-Cuellar) lowers the total contribution amount to $50 million (versus $75 million) and allows for different tax credits based on underserved areas. The bill was not heard and remains in Rules Committee.The program provides tax credits for donors who fund scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools and is set to expire at the end of 2023. Some lawmakers want to extend the program or make it permanent, but no action was taken during Veto Session.
New Bills
SB0508 (Cervantez/Delgado) amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (E-verify). Provides that an employer shall not impose work authorization verification or re-verification requirements greater than those required by federal law. The bill passed the Senate and remains in the House.SB2609 (Koehler) requires a school board to include information within the student handbook on how a parent or guardian can safely store any firearms at home and that information be made available to parents and guardians. The bill remains in Assignments Committee.
SB2634 (Stadelman) establishes a Fleet Electrification Incentive Program to provide fleet owners and operators grants to promote the use of eligible electric vehicles. This bill includes a 20% set aside of appropriated funds to the purchaser of electric school buses, subject to appropriation. The bill remains in Assignments Committee.
HB3052 (J Williams/Harmon) amends the Childhood Hunger Relief Act, allowing the State Board of Education to establish a grant program, subject to appropriation. The bill remains in the Senate.
HB4146 (Carroll) would mandate that a student is permitted to self-administer any over-the-counter lactose intolerant relief medication without written permission from the student's parent or guardian or written authorization from the student's physician, physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse. The bill remains in Rules Committee.
HB4216 (Spain) amends the Police Training Act to mandate the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop a course for school safety officers (retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. The bill remains in Rules Committee.
HB4219 (Yang Rohr) mandates that a school district shall provide instruction, study, and discussion on the dangers of fentanyl in at least one unit in state-required health courses from grades 6 through 8 beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill remains in Rules Committee.
The IASB Governmental Relations team is thankful to all stakeholders and legislators for their collaboration and looks forward to continuing our advocacy efforts at the state Capitol in the Spring.
Become An Advocacy Ambassador
Support IASB's legislative work to enhance local school board excellence and district success. The IASB Advocacy Ambassador Program is a grassroots program designed to build relationships between school board members and state and federal legislators. Advocacy Ambassadors help IASB meet its advocacy goals by sharing personal stories and expertise on policies related to public education. No experience is necessary to become an Advocacy Ambassador – all you need is your voice, your passion, and commitment to making a difference! Sign up today!