Delivered via email: January 23, 2026
While House floor action was slow, this is one of the busiest times of the year for the Governmental Relations team. January 16 was the Legislative Review Bureau’s (LRB) drafting deadline for substantive bills. As hundreds of bills are being drafted and posted on the General Assembly’s website, IASB staff has been reviewing and reaching out to bill sponsors to discuss concerns and possible amendments. This work will continue for the next several weeks. It is anticipated that General Assembly action will remain slow until after the Governor’s Budget and State of the State address on February 18, and possibly even until after the March 17 primary election.
The Senate returns to Springfield on February 3 with both chambers together for the first time on February 17, just prior to the Governor’s Address.
This Week at the Capitol
This week was the House's turn to return to Springfield and kick off the second year of the 104th General Assembly. Much like the Senate last week, no substantive legislative action occurred. On January 20, the first day back, the House was in session for 16 minutes. On January 21, the House convened and Democrat and Republican members immediately caucused. Following caucus, the Democrats filed six resolutions related to federal issues. After a spirited discussion on the six resolutions, no additional action was taken. Thursday was similarly quiet with the House adjourning for three weeks, returning February 17.While House floor action was slow, this is one of the busiest times of the year for the Governmental Relations team. January 16 was the Legislative Review Bureau’s (LRB) drafting deadline for substantive bills. As hundreds of bills are being drafted and posted on the General Assembly’s website, IASB staff has been reviewing and reaching out to bill sponsors to discuss concerns and possible amendments. This work will continue for the next several weeks. It is anticipated that General Assembly action will remain slow until after the Governor’s Budget and State of the State address on February 18, and possibly even until after the March 17 primary election.
The Senate returns to Springfield on February 3 with both chambers together for the first time on February 17, just prior to the Governor’s Address.
February Advocacy Ambassador Webinar
IASB’s Advocacy Ambassadors kicked off 2026 with a January webinar emphasizing the importance of storytelling along with key legislative updates. If you need support with the next steps on your advocacy journey, please contact Jen Ciok. If you are not a part of the Advocacy Ambassador program and want to be a part of this important work, sign up on the IASB website to get access to monthly webinars, Calls to Action, and tools to support your advocacy efforts. To register for the next meeting — February 20, from noon to 1 p.m. — visit the IASB Events Calendar.IASB Advocacy Day – March 24
Join us for IASB Advocacy Day on March 24 in Springfield! Registration is filling up fast, so sign up soon. This event will bring school board members in all phases of their advocacy journey together to network and elevate their voices at the state level. You will have the opportunity to meet with legislators and hear from panels of education leaders and policymakers discussing key issues impacting public education and your school district’s students. By sharing your district’s perspective, you help ensure that lawmakers understand the real-world implications of their decisions on schools and communities.IASB 2026 Legislative Priorities
With guidance from IASB Position Statements and Illinois Vision 2030, IASB’s priorities for 2026 are:- Fulfillment of State and Federal Funding Commitments
- Curricular Mandate Reform
- Support for Student Achievement Tools: Assessment, Accountability, and Evidence-Based Research