We're Almost at the Finish Line, Illinois!
May 5, 2016
Yesterday, the Illinois House Higher Education Committee passed SB 2743 by a vote of 14-0! This legislation, supported by Yoga Alliance, clarifies that the Illinois law governing vocational schools does not apply to yoga teacher training programs (YTTs). Applying this law to YTTs would result in burdensome and unnecessary regulation by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE).
We are incredibly pleased that the bill passed with unanimous support in the House Higher Education Committee just as it did on the Senate floor a few weeks ago. This overwhelming vote in favor of the legislation affirms that our message is resonating.
We are thankful to the bill sponsor Rep. Dan Burke, and House Higher Education Committee Chairperson Kelly Burke, for passing the legislation through committee. We are also grateful to all of the yogis who expressed support for the legislation online prior to the hearing – the large number of slips filed in support of the bill had a tremendous impact as did the personal testimony of our Illinois board member, Kerry Maiorca!
What's Next?
The bill now moves to the floor of the Illinois House where we expect it to be called for a vote soon. We will continue to provide updates on our continuing progress.
How You Can Help:
- Write your legislators and thank them for voting in support of the bill. You can thank the bill sponsors and the House Higher Education Committee.
- Email your representatives asking them to support SB 2743 prior to the House floor vote. The vote could happen quickly so we encourage you to send them a note as soon as possible.
- Please help us reach the finish line with a financial contribution to support our advocacy efforts. Behind the scenes, we have a dedicated team of lobbyists and attorneys to help us on to victory. Consider contributing not only to help us pass this law, but also to pay it forward so we can do the same for other states in jeopardy of burdensome regulation.
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We are almost to the finish line! Yoga Alliance is proud to champion the rights of YTTs in Illinois and for the broader yoga community.