WeVote
Log In

Bill

RB

Bill

SB 1329

SB 1329 - This act modifies various provisions relating to elections. This act is identical to SB 248 (2025). CLOSED PRIMARIES Under current law, at each primary election a voter is entitled to pick any ballot among the various established political parties, regardless of the voter's political party affiliation or unaffiliation. This act stipulates that a voter is only entitled to cast a ballot in the primary of the political party with which the voter is affiliated, according to the voter registration. The act permits a voter to change political party affiliation at any time, provided that changes made less than 23 weeks prior to the primary election will not take effect until after such election has taken place. A person who has not previously registered to vote in Missouri and who registers to vote after the last day to change party affiliation but before the last day to register to vote may vote in the primary election if the person chooses a political party affiliation or unaffiliation upon registering to vote. A person registered to vote prior to the effective date of this act shall be considered to be unaffiliated with a political party unless the person votes in the primary election held in August 2028, in which case the election authority must change the person's voter registration to reflect that the ballot chosen by the person is the political party with which the person is affiliated. The act requires any person who files a declaration of candidacy as a party candidate for nomination or election to any office to be affiliated with that political party no later than twenty-three weeks prior to the last Tuesday in February (the opening of candidate filing) immediately preceding the primary election in question. Likewise, any person running as an independent candidate or as the candidate for a new party shall be registered as unaffiliated as of the same deadline. Current law allows party nominating committees of any established political party to select a party candidate under certain situations. This act requires any candidate selected by the committee to be affiliated with such party. These provisions are substantially similar to HB 2308 (2026), HB 1128 (2025), HB 1156 (2025), SB 1140 (2024), HB 1410 (2024), SB 392 (2023), SB 240 (2023), HB 31 (2023), SB 907 (2022), SB 154 (2021), HB 1450 (2022), SB 571 (2020), HB 1258 (2020), HB 1639 (2020), SB 109 (2019), and HCS/HBs 26 & 922 (2019). PARTISAN LOCAL ELECTIONS The act also modifies provisions relating to the conduct of local elections. Current law provides that municipal offices are elected on a nonpartisan basis. This act requires all candidates for offices in cities, towns, villages, and townships to declare a political party affiliation when filing for office. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 1152 (2026), SB 86 (2025), SB 248 (2025), SB 202 (2023), HB 1203 (2023), and SB 1049 (2022) and similar to HB 1640 (2022) and SB 414 (2021). SCOTT SVAGERA

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rick Brattin

The act allows state and regional education authorities to disclose investigative materials and charging documents about licensed educators to current or recent employers.

Second Read and Referred S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1329

Summary — SB 1329 (Public Act 104-0373)

Title: SCH CD-ED LICENSE‑DISCLOSURE
Session/Status: Enacted as Public Act 104‑0373 (Governor approved Aug 15, 2025). Effective January 1, 2026.
Introduced: Jan 28, 2025. Sponsors: Sen. Denise “Mitzi” Epstein et al. (companion: HB 1010)

Purpose

Amend Section 21B‑75 of the Illinois School Code (Educator Licensure Article) to expand when and to whom certain records and charging documents related to investigations of licensed educators may be disclosed.

Key provisions

  • Authorizes disclosure of "correspondence, documentation, and other information" that a regional superintendent, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board has received to the license holder’s current or most recent employer.
  • Explicitly provides that a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing and the Statement of Charges issued by the State Superintendent against a license holder is not confidential and may be disclosed to third parties.
  • Leaves intact existing substantive authority and procedures in Section 21B‑75 concerning the State Superintendent’s power to investigate and to initiate suspension (up to 5 calendar years) or revocation of licenses for causes such as child abuse/neglect, sexual misconduct, immorality, incompetency, unprofessional conduct, failure to report suspected abuse, etc.
  • Preserves hearing rights and procedures: notice and opportunity for hearing, 10‑day deadline to request hearing (which stays proceedings), hearings located in the educator’s last employment region, discovery rules, preponderance of the evidence standard, and judicial review of final administrative decisions.

Who is affected

  • Licensed educators (teachers, administrators, and others required to be licensed under the Article).
  • Current and most recent employers (school districts, charter operators, regional offices).
  • State education entities: regional superintendents, State Superintendent, State Board of Education, and State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Bill progressed through the 2025 legislative session, passed both chambers (third reading May 23, 2025 House/Senate actions noted), sent to the Governor June 20, 2025, signed Aug 15, 2025.
  • New disclosure authorities take effect Jan 1, 2026.

Potential practical effects (neutral description)

  • Employers may receive investigative materials and formal charging documents earlier or more routinely, which could influence hiring, suspension, administrative responses, or internal investigations.
  • Educators may have less confidentiality for certain investigatory materials and charging documents prior to final administrative resolution.
  • The change clarifies disclosure permissibility for State and regional education authorities when communicating with employers.

For the statutory change, see the amendment to 105 ILCS 5/21B‑75 in the enacted Public Act 104‑0373.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.