Sangamon Sun

House Bill 2827, a contentious piece of legislation concerning the homeschooling of children in Illinois, is set for a public hearing in Springfield. This bill has sparked significant opposition, with over 19,000 electronic witness slips filed against it. The public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at 8 a.m. in the House Education Policy Committee.

The Citizen Participation Act emphasizes that Illinois residents have the constitutional right to engage in governmental processes and contribute their views on public policy. However, concerns have been raised about tactics allegedly employed by the Democratic supermajority to suppress opposing voices during legislative proceedings. These tactics include strategic maneuvers that could potentially invalidate public testimony.

The possibility exists that Democrats may alter the legislative language of HB 2827 or attach it to another bill number, which would nullify all current witness slips related to the bill. This potential move has prompted calls for transparency from House Republicans who are closely monitoring the situation.

"We hope the Democrats who are leading this state listen to the more than 19,000 people who filed witness slips in opposition to HB 2827," states an appeal made regarding this issue. The appeal urges House Democrats to uphold transparency and safeguard citizens' rights to participate in state governance.

Individuals who have already submitted witness slips are encouraged to contact the chair of the Education Policy Committee to ensure they receive timely notifications regarding any changes to HB 2827's status.

###