Legislation

 

Legislation 

Reports 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016

Mission

The mission of the Legislative Committee is to advocate for the interests of HCAA members to our area legislators and keep HCAA members informed about pertinent legislative activities.

Legislative Reports

2025

2024

  • October 24, 2024 Legislative Committee Report
  • September 23, 2024 Legislative Committee Report Highlights below
    • Pension Pre-Payments:
      • July 17: Illinois Office of Comptroller made early pension payments, allowing for investment growth.
    • Community College Funding:
      • August 22: State commission studying funding formula; state funding not meeting obligations, leading to increased tuition for students.
      • Recommendations expected early next year.
    • Enrollment Decline in Public Universities:
      • August 23: Significant drop in undergraduate enrollment (20% since 2014), leading to budget deficits.
      • Increased competition among universities impacting smaller schools.
    • Legislative Ideas from SUAA:
      • September 12: SUAA soliciting legislative proposals to address healthcare and funding issues for 2025.
    • Editorial on Education Funding:
      • September 16: Call for urgent funding for K-12 and higher education to address systemic underfunding affecting disadvantaged students.
    • Social Security Fairness Act:
      • September 20: NEA article urging for the repeal of WEP and GPO affecting educators’ benefits; a discharge petition has been initiated for a vote.
    • This report highlights ongoing challenges in funding for education and pension systems in Illinois, emphasizing the need for legislative action and immediate reform.
  • July 8, 2024 HCAA Legislative Committee Report. Note that this has been an active period for legislative action connected to SURS. The report link has more detail on the following.
    • On June 5, 2024, Governor Pritzker signed the FY25 Illinois state budget package. The $53.1 billion budget centers on families, invests in children, and prioritizes fiscal responsibility.
    • The budget did not address the Tier II benefit issue, however. Much has been said publicly about the need to reform Tier II, but no action has yet been taken. 
    • An article in the Cook County Record (March 28, 2024), stated that two judges have partnered in a lawsuit to potentially take down the state’s so-called Tier II pension law. This lawsuit may have an impact on Tier II issues across the state because it brings into question the way in which the law was approved.   
    • SUAA has been more vocal this year, sharing legislative updates, expressing support for Governor Pritzker’s FY 25 state budget and responding to articles in the Chicago Tribune.
  • May 6, 2024 HCAA Legislative Committee Report
  • March 18, 2024, HCAA Legislative Committee Report
  • January 2024, HCAA Legislative Committee Report

Legislation ARCHIVE

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016