LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
After adjourning in May, the Illinois General Assembly will reconvene for the Fall Veto Session on November 12th. The FY 2025 budget passed in June provides the full certified amounts for TRS and TRIP/TRAIL, representing a victory for retired teachers and a continuation of Governor Pritzker’s commitment to pension funding.
HB4959 was passed in June, providing help to retired teachers. It includes an extension of the “subject shortage area return to work” statute to June 30, 2027. Under the law, retired teachers who go back to approved subject shortage areas are not limited to post-retirement work restrictions of 120 days or 600 hours imposed on other retirees. The regional superintendent must designate the employment to be in a subject shortage area and TRS must give final approval in order for a retiree to be able to return to work without limitation.
HB 4959 also includes enhancements to the TRIP/TRAIL benefits by providing vision and dental benefits consistent with other retiree healthcare benefits offered by the Department of Central Management Services (CMS). This legislative change is the first step in obtaining low-cost dental and vision benefits from the State. IRTA members should be advised that it will take at least a year before these benefits will be made available through the State. You should not make any changes to your current dental or vision benefits until more details on this new benefit become available.
HB4959 also allows the Comptroller to prepay TRS ahead of the month when the payment is owed. While this legislation will not have a huge impact, it could moderately improve the funding ratio of TRS over time.
15th US Representative District – Mary Miller
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE (When house is in session)
1529 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone 201-225-5271
EFFINGHAM OFFICE
101 N. 4 th St., Suite 303
Effingham, IL
217-347-7947
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth
WASHINGTON DC OFFICE
524 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC, 20510
202-224-2854
SPRINGFIELD OFFICE
8 South Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, IL 62701
217- 528-6124
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin
WASHINGTON OFFICE
711 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2152
SPRINGFIELD OFFICE
525 S. 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
217-492-4062
(You can contact legislators directly or through the congress.gov links above, but the easiest way is through
Voter Voice on the IRTA website https://members.irtaonline.org/voter-voice . Once you are registered, you
click on the bill and fill in your name and address. They determine who your legislator is and give you a pre-
written message you can add a personal note to if you like. It only takes a few minutes.)
Contact friends and relatives to do the same. Remember, this not only affects educators but also
many other public servants. Many of these, as well as teachers – both current and retired, have no idea this
vote is going to take place. Actually, many don’t even know there is such a thing as the WEP or GPO. Educate
as many as you can in the next few weeks. Think back on that $9500/year average that women lose (men,
too, lose - $7320/year average). Think about how much nearly $10,000 more/year might mean to someone.
If we sit back and do nothing, we deserve to get nothing. This is one of the few chances we have to change
things for the better for teachers.
After adjourning in May, the Illinois General Assembly will reconvene for the Fall Veto Session on November 12th. The FY 2025 budget passed in June provides the full certified amounts for TRS and TRIP/TRAIL, representing a victory for retired teachers and a continuation of Governor Pritzker’s commitment to pension funding.
HB4959 was passed in June, providing help to retired teachers. It includes an extension of the “subject shortage area return to work” statute to June 30, 2027. Under the law, retired teachers who go back to approved subject shortage areas are not limited to post-retirement work restrictions of 120 days or 600 hours imposed on other retirees. The regional superintendent must designate the employment to be in a subject shortage area and TRS must give final approval in order for a retiree to be able to return to work without limitation.
HB 4959 also includes enhancements to the TRIP/TRAIL benefits by providing vision and dental benefits consistent with other retiree healthcare benefits offered by the Department of Central Management Services (CMS). This legislative change is the first step in obtaining low-cost dental and vision benefits from the State. IRTA members should be advised that it will take at least a year before these benefits will be made available through the State. You should not make any changes to your current dental or vision benefits until more details on this new benefit become available.
HB4959 also allows the Comptroller to prepay TRS ahead of the month when the payment is owed. While this legislation will not have a huge impact, it could moderately improve the funding ratio of TRS over time.
15th US Representative District – Mary Miller
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE (When house is in session)
1529 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone 201-225-5271
EFFINGHAM OFFICE
101 N. 4 th St., Suite 303
Effingham, IL
217-347-7947
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth
WASHINGTON DC OFFICE
524 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC, 20510
202-224-2854
SPRINGFIELD OFFICE
8 South Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, IL 62701
217- 528-6124
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin
WASHINGTON OFFICE
711 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2152
SPRINGFIELD OFFICE
525 S. 8th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
217-492-4062
(You can contact legislators directly or through the congress.gov links above, but the easiest way is through
Voter Voice on the IRTA website https://members.irtaonline.org/voter-voice . Once you are registered, you
click on the bill and fill in your name and address. They determine who your legislator is and give you a pre-
written message you can add a personal note to if you like. It only takes a few minutes.)
Contact friends and relatives to do the same. Remember, this not only affects educators but also
many other public servants. Many of these, as well as teachers – both current and retired, have no idea this
vote is going to take place. Actually, many don’t even know there is such a thing as the WEP or GPO. Educate
as many as you can in the next few weeks. Think back on that $9500/year average that women lose (men,
too, lose - $7320/year average). Think about how much nearly $10,000 more/year might mean to someone.
If we sit back and do nothing, we deserve to get nothing. This is one of the few chances we have to change
things for the better for teachers.
IRTA Votervoice Signup
Let your voice be heard and be informed when you need to act on legislative issues. Votervoice through IRTA will send you alerts and allow you to contact your legislator immediately through Voter Voice. Signing up is east. Just follow these steps.
1. Using the internet, go to IRTA’s website www.irtaonline.org.
2. Login to the “Members Only” section of the website. You will need your user name and password. If you have forgotten your username or password, contact the IRTA office at 1.800.728.4782. If you do not have a username or password, click on “Create a Profile”. Once you have logged into the website, you can access the whole website.
3. Left click on the section “Grass Roots Action Center – VOTERvoice.” This will direct you to the login page for VOTERvoice.
4. A Quick Sign Up is then available and all you need is your email address and your zip code. This information allows VOTERvoice messages to be sent directly to you with a direct link to your legislator.
SIgnup for IRTAPAC
IRTAPAC is a statewide, nonpartisan Political Action Committee (PAC) organized by members of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association to benefit the entire retired educator community through political contributions to state candidates. To make a contribution, fill out the form on the IRTA website or send a check to: IRTAPAC, 828 S. Second St., 4th Floor, Springfield, IL 62704.
IRTAPAC is a statewide, nonpartisan Political Action Committee (PAC) organized by members of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association to benefit the entire retired educator community through political contributions to state candidates. To make a contribution, fill out the form on the IRTA website or send a check to: IRTAPAC, 828 S. Second St., 4th Floor, Springfield, IL 62704.
YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS
Many of the issues that we need to address as retired teachers, we need to address to our local legislators. Below is information about how to contact them
Representative Brad Halbrook
You can email through his website www.rephalbrook.com or through one of his offices, but the Shelbyville office is probably the best.
Springfield:
204-N, Stratton Bldg
Springfield, IL
Phone: 217.782.8398
Fax: 217.782.1275
District Office:
203 N. Cedar St
Shelbyville, IL 62565
Phone: 217.774.1306
510 S. Staley, Ste D
Champaign, IL 61822
Phone: 217.607.1853
Senator Chapin Rose
You can email Senator Rose through his website www.senchapinrose.com or one of his offices. The Champaign office is probably the best.
Capitol Office
108E Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217)558-1006
Champaign County Office
510 S. Staley Rd., Suite D
Champaign, IL 61822
(217) 607-1853
Macon County Office
5130 Hickory Point Frontage Road Suite 103
Decatur, IL 62526
217-330-9356
Governor JB Prtizker
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-6830 or 217-782-6831
www2.illinois.gov/sites/gov/contactus