Budget & Taxes

Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Requires waiver of 50% of any nonrefundable license application fees, any nonrefundable fees associated with purchasing a license to operate a cannabis business establishment, and any surety bond or other financial requirements for a Social Equity Applicant who promises to open and operate the business in a Disproportionately Impacted Area and who promises to hire and employ at least 40% of all employees and contracted labor from persons residing in or headquartered in the Disproportionately Impacted Area where the business will be located. Provides that a breach of a promise by an applicant under those provisions shall constitute a violation of the Act. Provides that fee waivers or other requirement waivers under 2 different specified provisions relating to Social Equity Applicants may not be cumulative, and an applicant who qualifies under both may only choose one.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, the exclusion amount is $8,000,000. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2028, the exclusion amount shall be adjusted according to the inflation adjustment described in the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that the exclusion amount includes any deceased spousal unused exclusion amount available after a valid election is made under the Internal Revenue Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, the exclusion amount shall be the applicable exclusion amount calculated under Section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code as that Section exists on the effective date of the amendatory Act, including the inflation adjustment and including any deceased spousal unused exclusion amount (currently, the exclusion amount for Illinois estate tax purposes is $4,000,000). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Act. Provides that, for persons dying on or after January 1, 2027, the State tax credit shall be calculated as though the decedent's federal taxable estate did not include the decedent's business interest in a manufacturing business located in this State. Defines "manufacturing business". Effective immediately.

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 Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that the City of Chicago is considered a taxing district for purposes of the Law. Preempts home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Sports Wagering Act. Removes language imposing a wager tax on each master sports licensee for each individual wager placed with the master sports licensee for sports wagering over the Internet or through a mobile application.

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.

Creates the Local Government Business Anti-Poaching Act. Provides that no municipality or county shall offer after the effective date of the Act any incentive to a business or corporation to move its headquarters located in Illinois, or any part of its business located in Illinois, away from the current location. Defines "incentive". Limits home rule powers. Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds 2 factors to the determination of a "blighted area" for improved, industrial, commercial, and residential buildings or improvements: (i) if the redevelopment project area has had an annual average unemployment rate of at least 120% of the State's annual average unemployment rate; and (ii) if the redevelopment project area has a poverty rate of at least 20%, 50% or more of children in the redevelopment project area participate in the federal free lunch program, or 20% or more households in the redevelopment project area receive assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Removes or modifies various factors from the definitions of "blighted area" and "conservation area" for improved and vacant areas. Provides that a new redevelopment project shall have a completion date no later than December 31st of the 10th year after the ordinance was adopted (rather than the 23rd year) and may be extended to 15 years (rather than 35 years). Provides that the joint review board and municipality shall approve surplus funds and extensions of redevelopment project area completion dates. Provides that surplus funds shall be distributed annually within 90 days (rather than 180 days) after the close of a municipality's fiscal year. Provides that a new or modified redevelopment project area that overlaps with any existing redevelopment project area shall not be approved. Provides that 10% of the moneys deposited into the special tax allocation fund shall be transferred, by the municipal treasurer, to the local chamber of commerce or chambers of commerce representing the redevelopment project area no later than 30 days after each deposit to the tax allocation fund. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2026, except that provisions concerning the Local Government Business Anti-Poaching Act are effective immediately.

Amends the Business Corporation Act of 1983. Provides that, in the case of a domestic or foreign corporation, no payment is required for a franchise tax that would have been due and payable on and after January 1, 2029. Provides that all amounts remaining in the Corporate Franchise Tax Refund Fund shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund no later than December 31, 2030. Makes changes in provisions concerning the statute of limitations. Repeals provisions concerning franchise taxes payable by domestic and foreign corporations on January 1, 2030. Effective immediately.