This bill primarily updates tax and bond laws in Illinois to support large-scale construction projects known as megaprojects. It allows the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to certify specific building projects, granting eligible developers a temporary exemption from state and local taxes on building materials for up to 15 years. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that public corporations can no longer levy taxes to pay off bonds once the debt is fully paid or the bond matures. The bill also requires that future bond referenda be held during general elections rather than at regularly scheduled times, while making various technical adjustments to existing tax acts.
SB 4163 allocates state funds for capital projects (like infrastructure and buildings) during the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026. It directly affects state agencies that manage capital construction and maintenance by providing budget authority for their projects. The bill makes specific funding assignments without creating new taxes or changing existing laws, simply directing how existing budget resources will be used for capital needs. This is a routine budget measure to support state facility investments.
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in levy year 2026, if a specified taxing district provided a property tax abatement under a specified provision of the Energy Community Reinvestment Act in any levy year occurring before the current levy year and if the taxing district was subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the levy year of the abatement, then the district's aggregate extension base for each subsequent levy year after the levy year of the abatement but not earlier than levy year 2026 shall be calculated as through the district's aggregate extension for the levy year in which the abatement was granted included the amount of the abatement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, the beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Chicago City Council shall not adopt an ordinance authorizing a debt issuance without the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the alderpersons then holding office on the Chicago City Council. Defines "debt issuance". Limits home rule powers.
Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness for specified purposes shall be issued from time to time only in amounts as may be required for such purposes but the amount of such obligations issued during any one budget year shall not exceed $250,000,000 (rather than $150,000,000) plus the amount of any obligations authorized by the Act to be issued during the 3 budget years next preceding the year of issuance but which were not issued.
Amends the Innovation Development and Economy Act. Provides that the corporate authorities of any political subdivision that (i) is not a home-rule unit and (ii) has established a STAR bond district under the Act may, by ordinance or resolution, impose a tourism tax upon all admission and amusement charges from transactions at places of business located within the STAR bond district, at a rate not to exceed 9% of the gross receipts derived from any admission and amusement charge within the STAR bond district, to be imposed only in 0.25% increments. Provides that the tax imposed under the provisions and all civil penalties that may be assessed as an incident of the tax under the provisions shall be collected and enforced by the Department of Revenue. Provides that, for any STAR bond district created on or after January 1, 2025, the Director of Revenue may only approve a STAR bond district if the Director finds that: (i) the proposed STAR bond district is an eligible area; (ii) the STAR bond district plan includes a projected capital investment of at least $500,000,000; (iii) the STAR bond district plan is reasonably projected to produce at least $100,000,000 of annual gross sales revenues, 1,500 new jobs, and 5,000 construction jobs; (iv) the STAR bond district plan includes a statement of how the jobs and taxes will contribute significantly to the economic development of the State and region; (v) the STAR bond district plan shows visitation expectations in excess of 1,000,000 visitors annually; (vi) the STAR bond district plan includes potential destination users and a potential entertainment user; (vii) the creation of the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan are in accordance with the purpose of the Act and the public interest; and (viii) the STAR bond district and STAR bond district plan meet any other requirement the Director deems appropriate. Provides that, for the purposes of the Act, "local sales tax increment" includes, with respect to local sales taxes administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue, all of the local sales tax paid by, among others, amusement park users. Makes other changes.
Creates the Taxpayer Protection Act. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the Act, for bonds or incurred debt issued through a referendum by a unit of local government or school district, the bonds or incurred debt shall not be extended or reissued unless authorized by a referendum. Provides that a unit of local government or school district shall not submit the question concerning the extension or reissuance of a bond or incurring debt to voters in a referendum until at least one year has passed since the retirement of the bond or debt approved by a referendum. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the Act, a unit of local government or school district shall not submit a question concerning the issuance of a bond or incurring debt to the voters in a referendum until at least one year has passed since that unit or district last proposed a question or proposition concerning the issuance of bonds or incurring debt in a referendum. Limits home rule powers. Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that there shall not be a service extension base annual increase unless increased by referendum. Amends the School Code. Provides that no later than 30 days before a school district submits to the voters of that district a question on whether to issue bonds or increase the school district's property tax rate, the school district must send informational material to each resident of voting age in the school district; defines "informational material". Specifies what must be included in the informational material. Effective immediately.
Amends the Fiscal Note Act, the Judicial Note Act, the State Debt Impact Note Act, the Correctional Budget and Impact Note Act, the Home Rule Note Act, the Balanced Budget Note Act, the Housing Affordability Impact Note Act, and the Racial Impact Note Act. Provides, in each of the affected Acts, that no rule of either house may authorize or require a note request to be deemed inapplicable. Effective immediately.
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that the debt service extension base shall be suspended for park districts for the 2026 levy year.
HB 3920 is a funding bill that allocates specific sums from various state funds to the Office of the State Treasurer for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It provides $17.2 million for operational costs, $1 million for tax interest refunds, $26.2 million from pension funds, and $3.7 billion for bond payments covering programs like transportation, schools, and pollution bonds. Additional funds support the Treasurer’s building maintenance ($500,000), higher education savings program ($2.5 million), and charitable trust administration ($1 million). The bill directly affects the State Treasurer’s office and its ability to manage state finances, with all funds designated for existing programs and operations.
