Our Members Set the Course: 2026-2027 Legislative Program Approved

On July 24, the CCCTU House of Representatives approved our 2026-2027 Legislative Program. This is the roadmap that will guide our advocacy, our endorsements, and the fights we take on over the next academic year.

A few things stand out this year.

First, revenue. Illinois is still operating under a tax structure built in the 1960s, and that outdated framework is a big part of why the state continues to face a structural deficit. We are pushing for a modernized revenue system that can actually fund the public services people depend on, including community colleges.

We are also continuing our push for an elected board of trustees at City Colleges of Chicago. An appointed board answers to whoever appointed it. An elected board answers to students, faculty, staff, and the community. That kind of accountability matters.

Pensions remain a top priority. We are working to protect the pensions our members have already earned, and we are pushing to strengthen Tier 2 benefits for anyone hired in 2011 or later. Tier 2 has been a raw deal for a long time, and it is well past time to fix it.

Beyond our own workplaces, this program takes a stand on the broader attacks facing labor and public education right now. That includes opposing coordinated efforts to weaken unions and undermine democratic governance, defending a fully funded U.S. Department of Education, and pushing back against political interference in the classroom that threatens academic freedom.

Students are at the center of this program as well. We are advocating for expanded Pell Grants, more funding for TRIO programs that support first-generation and underrepresented students, and a simpler, more accessible FAFSA process. We are also backing legislation that would let community colleges offer workforce baccalaureate degrees, which would open doors for working students and help fill critical workforce gaps across Illinois.

A newer addition to the program this year is our position on artificial intelligence. We are calling for legislation that keeps humans as the primary decision makers in our classrooms and colleges, along with a token tax on AI companies that would direct funding back toward public education and support workers whose jobs are most affected by these tools.

The full program covers a lot more ground: the College Insurance Program, dual credit standards, the PSRP Bill of Rights, the PRO Act, student housing and childcare barriers, open education resources, climate safe pensions, TIF reform, protecting our immigrant communities from ICE interference on campus, and even emergency redistricting to defend voting rights and public education funding.

If you want to get more involved in our legislative work, reach out to Legislative Chair Troy Swanson at tswanson@ccctu.org. Read the full legislative program here.