Delivered via email: October 27, 2023
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 it or make it permanent.
SB2627 (Ventura) was filed late Wednesday, October 25, and sets the minimum teacher salary at $50,000 beginning with the 2024-25 school year, $55,000 for the 2025-26 school year, and $60,000 for the 2026-27 school year.
SB2609 (Koehler) requires a school board to include information on how a parent or guardian can safely store any firearms at home within the student handbook, and made available to parents and guardians.
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.
Veto session will resume on November 7 for another three days. Lawmakers will have until then to decide whether to override or accept any of the Governor’s vetoes or act on any other pending legislation.
If your district has not named a delegate for this years’ Delegate Assembly, please review the Resolutions Committee Report and register a board member to represent your district at the Joint Annual Conference. Roster managers for IASB member districts can continue to register their district delegate online until Thursday, November 16. Onsite registration at the Joint Annual Conference for the Delegate Assembly will be available on Friday, November 17, in the IASB Info Center. Although delegate registration is online, voting at the Delegate Assembly must take place in person.
The First Week of Veto Session
Bill Action This Week
This week kicked off the Illinois General Assembly's fall veto session (October 24-26 and November 7-9). This is a time when lawmakers can override or accept the Governor’s vetoes, continue work on existing legislation, or introduce something new. The House adjourned early on Wednesday and the Senate approved some executive appointments and adjourned on Thursday, leaving the bulk of the work for the second week of veto session.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. Senator Ram Villivalam filed SB0457 on the opening day of session in response to the veto. 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 Wednesday, October 25.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 remains to be heard in 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 it or make it permanent.
New Bills
SB2610 (Martwick) would allow the Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) Board to set their own compensation by board resolution. This initiative stems from HB2908, which established the CPS elected school board and the sponsor hopes to move the bill through veto session.SB2627 (Ventura) was filed late Wednesday, October 25, and sets the minimum teacher salary at $50,000 beginning with the 2024-25 school year, $55,000 for the 2025-26 school year, and $60,000 for the 2026-27 school year.
SB2609 (Koehler) requires a school board to include information on how a parent or guardian can safely store any firearms at home within the student handbook, and made available to parents and guardians.
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.
Veto session will resume on November 7 for another three days. Lawmakers will have until then to decide whether to override or accept any of the Governor’s vetoes or act on any other pending legislation.
Delegate Assembly Webinar to be Held October 31
A webinar will be held Tuesday, October 31 at noon to discuss what to expect at the Delegate Assembly. Registered delegates and interested board members are encouraged to attend the webinar in advance of attending the Delegate Assembly on Saturday, November 18 as part of the Joint Annual Conference.If your district has not named a delegate for this years’ Delegate Assembly, please review the Resolutions Committee Report and register a board member to represent your district at the Joint Annual Conference. Roster managers for IASB member districts can continue to register their district delegate online until Thursday, November 16. Onsite registration at the Joint Annual Conference for the Delegate Assembly will be available on Friday, November 17, in the IASB Info Center. Although delegate registration is online, voting at the Delegate Assembly must take place in person.