Illinois Federation of Teachers takes position on 132 bills, gets its way on 53
During the 104th Illinois General Assembly, IFT got its way on 40% of bills it lobbied on.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers is a major political player in Springfield.
Case in point: Lawmakers did the union’s bidding on 2-in-5 bills on which it registered an opinion in the 104th Illinois General Assembly.
The two-year General Assembly session began Jan. 8, 2025. IFT filed its position on 132 bills.
Here’s what IFT supported, what it opposed, and how its lobbying affects people all over Illinois on an array of issues unrelated to union rights or education.
Of 117 bills IFT supported, 41 passed
IFT urged passage of 117 bills. Of those, 41 passed both chambers and were signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Those were:
- Immigration: House Bill 1312, House Bill 3247
- School district finances: House Bill 4375
- Curriculum: House Bill 4577
- Student assessments: House Bill 2574
- Employee evaluations: Senate Bill 28, Senate Bill 2909, Senate Bill 2913
- Employee and union rights: House Bill 3046, House Bill 3309, Senate Bill 1799, Senate Bill 2914
- School health and safety: House Bill 1787, House Bill 3000, House Bill 3275, House Bill 5107, Senate Bill 71
- Student discipline: Senate Bill 2918
- Special education policy: House Bill 2337, House Bill 2537, House Bill 4581, Senate Bill 1231
- Higher education policy: House Bill 1149, House Bill 1859, House Bill 3385, House Bill 3522, Senate Bill 1310, Senate Bill 3314
- Licensure for social workers, teachers: House Bill 4397, Senate Bill 1584
- Private school regulation: Senate Bill 3361
- District facilities: Senate Bill 3273
- Public pensions: House Bill 2564, Senate Bill 2802, Senate Bill 4010
- Other education matters: House Bill 1062, House Bill 4536
- Other employment matters: House Bill 3638, House Bill 4862, Senate Bill 212, Senate Bill 1976
IFT also supported dozens of bills that didn’t make its way to the governor’s desk. House Bill 3102 would have created a state grant program for school districts serving newly arrived immigrant students, regardless of immigration status. House Bill 3014 would have allocated $35 million in taxpayer funding to the program.
Some of the bills IFT supported didn’t involve education or union rights. For example, House Bill 1598 and Senate Bill 2940 would have imposed new qualification requirements on surgical technologists working in Illinois healthcare facilities. Senate Bill 3376 would have imposed a new tax on unrealized investment gains for Illinois residents’ worth at least $1 billion.
Of the 15 bills IFT opposed, 12 failed
IFT took a stance against 15 bills. Twelve bills did not pass both houses, while three became law. Bills the union opposed included but were not limited to:
- Transparency related to school district employee misconduct: Senate Bill 1329 (enacted)
- Parental rights: House Bill 1269
- Literacy help for schoolchildren: House Bill 2918, House Bill 3009
- Teaching as a second career: House Bill 5246
Some of the bills IFT opposed might appear to go against what is best for students. House Bill 2918 would have required school districts to screen students in kindergarten through second grade for risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screening. The bill mandated next steps and a framework for support and intervention.
House Bill 3009 would have required districts to notify parents of a child’s reading deficiency.
Just 47.3% of Illinois public school third-graders met or exceeded the state’s reading proficiency in 2025, yet IFT opposed literacy help for schoolchildren and keeping parents informed.
Altogether, lawmakers did what IFT wanted on 53 of the 132 bills on which the union took a position. That’s 40%.
IFT’s lobbying reaches beyond education and union rights
IFT represents teachers and other education employees across Illinois, but its legislative agenda shows it is seeking to influence more than teacher’s pay, benefits and working conditions.
For example, IFT backed a legally questionable digital ad tax and two immigration–related bills, along with health care regulations and a tax on unrealized investment gains for billionaires.
With lawmakers delivering IFT’s preferred outcome on 2-in-5 bills it lobbied over, its legislative priorities are shaping policy beyond the classrooms and employees it represents.