Budget & Taxes

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $831,447,600; Other State Funds $30,180,000; Federal Funds $59,461,100; Total $921,088,700.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a person may apply for the senior citizens homestead exemption if the person is 64 years of age or older, as long as the person will be 65 years of age during the assessment year for which the exemption is sought. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) shall, in consultation with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) and the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS), annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS and ILEAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating and providing personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to all-hazard emergencies in this State and establish a formula for the distribution of that funding. Provides for a continuing appropriation of that funding, with reductions in the case of federal funding. Changes a definition. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $1,558,900 to the State Universities Civil Service System for the purpose of meeting its operational needs for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption, provides that the Chief County Assessment Officer in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants may request full social security numbers or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all members of the applicant's household. Provides that the Chief County Assessment Officer may renew the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption without a new application if the Chief County Assessment Officer is able to confirm both that the applicant still owns and resides in the property and that applicant's household income qualifies for the exemption. Provides that a Chief County Assessment Officer who renews a low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption without an annual application shall notify the applicant of both the decision to renew the exemption and the applicant's ongoing duty to report changes in the eligibility of the property to receive the exemption.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Chicago State University for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $41,334,600; Other State Funds $3,307,000; Total $44,641,600.

Amends the Illinois Gambling Act. Provides that during the period where authorized payments are required, Des Plaines commits to share 40% of the gaming tax revenue that remains after the authorized payment, less the amounts received by the named municipalities from the proceeds of a specified casino, with the following municipalities: Chicago Heights; Dixmoor; Ford Heights; Harvey; Hodgkins; Markham; Phoenix; Riverdale; Robbins; and Summit. Provides that the amount received by each named municipality shall be allocated proportionally to the population of each municipality and reduced by the amount received by that municipality from the proceeds of the specified casino. Defines "authorized payments".

Creates the Road Usage Charge Act. Establishes the Road Usage Charge Advisory Committee to guide the development and evaluation of the road usage charge pilot program and to assess the potential for mileage-based revenue as an alternative to the current system of taxing highway use through motor fuel taxes. Sets forth the membership and duties of the committee. Requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of State and based on the recommendations of the Committee, to implement a statewide pilot program by January 1, 2026 to assess a user fee on owners of motor vehicles that is based on the number of miles traveled on public roadways in this State by those vehicles. Amends the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. Provides that, on and after February 1, 2026, the Chicago Transit Board shall have 8 members (currently 7 members). Makes changes to the number of affirmative votes by Directors required to issue bonds. Amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act. Provides that the Annual Budget and 2-Year Financial Plan must show that the aggregate of all projected fare revenues from fares and charges for mass transportation provided by, or under grant or purchase of service contracts of, the Service Boards received in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 shall equal at least 25%, and in fiscal years 2028 and 2029 and every year thereafter at least 15%, of the aggregate cost of providing such public transportation in those fiscal years. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Regional Transportation Authority shall be the sole agency responsible for the management and oversight of the fare collection systems used on all public transportation provided by the Service Boards. Makes changes to the membership of the Suburban Bus Board and the Commuter Rail Board. Makes changes to the number of affirmative votes required by the Directors of the Authority to approve decisions regarding the strategic plan, coordination of fares and service, appointment of officers and employees, paratransit services, powers of the Commuter Rail Board, labor, budget, taxes, distribution of revenues, issuing and pledging bonds and notes, budget review powers, the annual capital improvement plan, and rate protection contracts. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the General Provisions, Downstate Police, Downstate Firefighter, Chicago Police, Chicago Firefighter, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), State Employees, and State Universities Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. With regard to police officers, firefighters, and similar public safety employees, removes Tier 2 limitations on the amount of salary for annuity purposes; provides that the automatic annual increases to a retirement pension or survivor pension are calculated under the Tier 1 formulas; and provides that the amount of and eligibility for a retirement annuity are calculated under the Tier 1 provisions. Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that, each fiscal year, the Comptroller shall pay to each unit of local government that makes a certification of certain employer costs under the Illinois Pension Code or under a specified provision of the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act an amount equal to 40% of the total amount certified by the unit of local government. Creates a continuing appropriation of that amount. Amends the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Provides that a unit of local government that provides health insurance to police officers and firefighters shall maintain the health insurance plans of these employees after retirement and shall contribute toward the cost of the annuitant's coverage under the unit of local government's health insurance plan an amount equal to 4% of that cost for each full year of creditable service upon which the annuitant's retirement annuity is based. Makes other and conforming changes. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Illinois Labor Relations Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, as follows: General Funds $2,549,200.