Budget & Taxes

Amends the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act. Changes the income eligibility levels used to determine eligibility for reduced vehicle registration fees for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Amends the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act. Renews the program for incentive periods beginning on or after July 1, 2018 and ending on or before June 30, 2025. Removes language concerning the Put Illinois to Work Program for the second series of incentive periods. Provides that the term "full-time employee" means an individual who is employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week (currently, employed for a basic wage for at least 35 hours each week or renders any other standard of service generally accepted by industry custom or practice as full-time employment). Provides that a net increase in the number of full-time Illinois employees shall be treated as continuous if a different new employee is hired as a replacement within 8 weeks after the position becomes vacant (currently, a reasonable time). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the corporate authorities of a municipality may license and regulate all commercial operations within the municipality's boundaries, whether for profit or not for profit, but may not impose any tax upon their operations except as otherwise authorized by law. Limits the definition of "commercial operations" to exclude agritourism operations, agricultural properties, agribusinesses, agritourism activities, agricultural experiences, and pollution control facilities.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, except as provided with respect to mobile homes, a building or structure that is not affixed to or installed on a permanent foundation or connected to utilities for year-round occupancy is not considered real property. Effective immediately.

Amends the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Provides that the Board of the Kendall County Forest Preserve District may impose a tax upon all persons engaged in the business of selling, including leasing, tangible personal property, other than personal property titled or registered with an agency of this State's government, at retail in the county on the gross receipts from the sales made in the course of business to provide revenue to be used by the forest preserve district in that county for general forest preserve district purposes. Provides that the tax may not be imposed on tangible personal property taxed at the 1% rate under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that the tax shall not be imposed on sales of aviation fuel for so long as the revenue use requirements are binding on the board. Provides that the tax and all civil penalties that may be assessed as an incident of the tax shall be collected and enforced by the Department of Revenue. Amends the State Finance Act. Designates the Special Forest Preserve District Retailers and Service Occupation Tax Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

HB 4841 permanently extends a 50% tax credit for Illinois taxpayers who donate to affordable housing projects under the Illinois Housing Development Act. It directly affects donors - such as individuals, businesses, and investors - who contribute to qualifying housing developments. The bill removes the previous expiration date (December 31, 2026), making the credit permanent and effective immediately. Taxpayers can apply the credit against state income tax, carry forward excess credits for up to five years, and transfer the credit to eligible projects or other donors.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that neither a county nor a municipality may impose a tax on businesses calculated based on the number of employees of the business. Effective immediately.

Amends the Live Theater Production Tax Credit Act. Provides that a pre-Broadway production must have a presentation scheduled for Broadway's Theater District in New York City no later than 18 months after its Illinois presentation (currently, must have a goal of having a presentation scheduled for Broadway's Theater District in New York City after its Illinois presentation). Provides that, if, in any State fiscal year, less than $2,000,000 in credits are awarded for long-run productions and pre-Broadway productions under the Act, then the difference between $2,000,000 and the amount of credits awarded for long-run productions and pre-Broadway productions in that fiscal year may be added to the $2,000,000 in credits allowed to be awarded for commercial Broadway touring shows in that State fiscal year. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Extends the sunset of the live theater production credit until January 1, 2039 (currently, January 1, 2027). Effective immediately.

HB 1790 creates a state income tax credit for Illinois taxpayers who purchase qualifying firearm safety devices (like gun safes, lock boxes, or cases) from federally licensed dealers. The credit allows a nonrefundable deduction of up to $300 per taxpayer annually for eligible purchases made between 2026 and 2031, with a total annual limit of $5 million across all taxpayers. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to five years to offset future tax liability. This policy directly affects Illinois residents buying these safety devices, aiming to reduce their out-of-pocket costs through tax relief.

Creates the Ground-Based Sparkler Purchaser Excise Tax Act. Imposes a tax, beginning July 1, 2025, upon purchasers for the privilege of using ground-based sparklers and not for the purpose of resale at the rate of 6% of the purchase price of ground-based sparklers. Prohibits certain retail combinations or bundles. Requires every retailer required to collect the tax to apply to the Department of Revenue for a certificate of registration. Provides that any retailer required to collect the tax shall be liable to the Department for the tax, whether the tax has been collected, and any such tax shall constitute a debt to the State. Provides for the making of returns. Provides that from the revenue collected, the Department shall pay 25% into the Fireman's Annuity and Benefit Fund, 25% into the Firefighters' Pension Investment Fund, and 50% into the General Revenue Fund. Provides for recordkeeping requirements. Establishes penalties for violations of the Act. Provides that the Department shall have full power to administer and enforce the Act. Allows for the arrest of any person who violates the Act, the search of any place of business to inspect all ground-based sparklers, and the seizure of any ground based-sparklers without a warrant. Sets forth hearing requirements after seizure. Allows the Department to adopt rules. Amends the Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois. Allows a municipality to prohibit the sale and use of ground-based sparklers on public property. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Amends the Pyrotechnic Use Act. Prohibits ground-based sparklers from being sold to a person under the age of 18 years. Effective July 1, 2025.