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* They’re also apparently working on a tollway capital component…
NEW: Mass transit funding proposal from IL House Dems includes using the gas tax designated for the road fund and also granting authorization for the RTA to vote on a $0.25 tax.
Look for floor debate 6:30p tonight #twill— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) October 30, 2025
The RTA tax is a sales tax. Unlike current law, local governments will not be allowed to divert that new money for first responders, etc.
There’s also word that some of the interest on the Road Fund might be used for transit. This was a Republican idea.
…Adding… Keep in mind that nothing is set in stone until the three tops make the final decision.
…Adding… The 2019 capital bill gradually phased-out transferring sales tax on motor fuels to the General Revenue Fund. By now, it was supposed to be all heading to the Road Fund. But this budget (again) delayed that final phase-out and used the money for transit. That practice was supposed to end, but apparently, they’re gonna use that cash for transit going forward.
…Adding… The plan is actually to transfer all sales tax revenues on gas/diesel to transit, for a total of roughly $750 million a year. Add that to the quarter point increase of the RTA tax and the annual interest on the Road Fund for transit capital ($175 million a year right now) and you’re at about $1.5 billion for transit. I’ll have more for subscribers in the morning.
…Adding: 6:46 pm… House Exec is now holding a subject matter hearing on the transit bill, but no bill has been posted online as of yet. From sponsoring Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado…
…Adding… Downstate Laborers’ union is opposed because the plan reduces overall money for road projects. Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) wants Downstate’s sales tax share bumped up to $150 million per year. Rep. Delgado says that can’t be done without additional revenues.
* Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) is justifiably complaining that they’re debating a bill without any actual language.
…Adding… As I noted above, Rep. Delgado says there will be a tollway hike of 45 cents for passenger vehicles and 30 percent for commercial vehicles, with CPI increase capped at 4 percent a year. That money will only be used for roads. Local 150 says this will generate up to about a billion a year in revenues to fund a $10 billion ten-year capital program, but with CPI it could be significantly higher.
…Adding… Not mentioned yet in the committee debate is that, according to Local 150 of the Operating Engineers, the split in the state’s road/bridges spending has been about 65-35 favoring downstate. It’s only supposed to be 55-45, but the state has been working on a ton of downstate roads and bridges. And it’s projected to remain 65-35 during the next five years.
…Adding: 7:47 pm… House Exec has finished debating the transit bill. Recessed until call of the chair.
* Meanwhile, the House Revenue Committee has approved an amendment to create a sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds program (SB1911 HA3). A similar bill passed the House last spring with 100 votes, but it wasn’t called in the Senate. The bill prohibits sports teams from using STAR bonds. The proposal allows developers to use sales tax money to finance big projects. Unlike the old STAR bonds program, this one has a lot of state oversight. The amendment is part of a larger revenue package, which includes the decoupling from recent federal tax code changes.
This post will be updated.
…Adding… The House Executive Committee is holding a subject matter hearing on HB3799, which is the insurance regulation bill currently in the Senate. The insurance industry is hotly opposed, with one testifier claiming that it will increase homeowner insurance rates higher than California’s.
…Adding… House Exec could also hold a subject matter hearing on the immigration bill that’s still in the Senate: HB1312 SA2. As subscribers know, the language was changed a bit from yesterday. Some background is here.
…Adding: 5:56 pm… House Speaker Welch is now testifying in favor of the immigration-related bill. Click here.
…Adding: 6:20 pm… The insurance regulation bill is being heard on the Senate floor. It’s expected to pass.
…Adding: 6:44 pm… The Senate has approved the insurance regulation bill. HB3799 now goes to the House for consideration.
…Adding: 8:09 pm… The Senate has passed the Energy bill. SB25 now heads to Gov. Pritzker.
…Adding… Press release…
Today, Gov. Pritzker released the following statement on the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act:
“For far too long, private grid operators have been hiking up rates that are making it harder for Illinois families to pay their utility bills. At the same time, the Trump Administration has been blocking the ability to bring lower-cost energy options online. Illinois is taking action to address these concerns and has passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act – an important step that will help lower utility bills and make our electrical grid stronger.
“This legislation takes two routes toward affordability. First, it will accelerate clean energy projects with new grid-scale batteries and other clean energy technology to increase the available electricity supply. Second, it will require utility companies to help their consumers to lower their utility bills and access energy efficient resources. This bill will build upon the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, positioning Illinois to keep growing our clean energy economy and creating good-paying jobs in communities across the state.
“Illinois is leading an ambitious clean energy effort that will make our electrical grid more resilient, power our economy, and make energy more affordable for everyone. I am grateful for working with the Illinois General Assembly and I look forward to signing this bill into law and help Illinoisans keep costs lower and keep the lights on.”
[We’re moving over to our usual format of an end of session cheat sheet. Click here. Also, you can see press releases as the evening progresses by clicking here.]
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 5:05 pm
Previous Post: Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Next Post: 2025 veto session cheat sheet
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Wait, none of the RTA sales tax goes to the counties, or none of the increase goes to the counties? Big difference.
Bill number?
Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 5:08 pm
As noted above, the new money would have to be used for transit.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 5:10 pm
Liking what I’m seeing here. Do we know if this includes the gas tax, or a sales tax on motor fuels?
Comment by Michael McLean Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 5:14 pm
It’s good to hear the collar county slush fund isn’t being increased.
Comment by Third Rail Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 5:19 pm
Is the Transportation Funds provision in the Illinois Constitution, Article IX Section 11, going to come into play here? It allows for “costs for construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair of… mass transit” and “the safety of… mass transit”. Would that include general operations for CTA, Metra, PACE?
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 5:48 pm
===general operations for CTA, Metra, PACE===
It’s for transit capital.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 6:32 pm
really hoping that CTA fare increase sticks.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 6:51 pm
Now this sounds like a serious bill to fund transit
Comment by Neil M Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 6:52 pm
How original. Just completely screw downstate.
Comment by Always Up Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 7:09 pm
- really hoping that CTA fare increase sticks. -
low ridership is the main cause for lack of safety, which in turn is a main cause for lack of ridership — creates a downward spiral. Higher fares only add to the spiraling.
Comment by Sox Fan Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 7:20 pm
The (proposed) CTA fare increase did not in fact stick. 90% sure the co-sponsor said it was being tabled for at least a year in this bill.
I’d confirm that by reading the amendment which…at 8:10pm…still isn’t available.
Comment by ChicagoBars Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 8:11 pm
not increasing the cta fare is insane. shows again how riders have no skin in the game. they continue to get handouts
Comment by Fiscal Sanity Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 8:15 pm
Not increasing the fares to what they’d be inflation adjusted is insane and shows how much special interest groups have hijacked this state
Comment by Fiscal Sanity Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 8:16 pm
-not increasing the CTA fare
CTA has already announced a fare increase before this.
Comment by Someone who pays attention Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 8:17 pm
I think this is a much better package than what was on the table before.
Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 8:33 pm
- Someone who pays attention -
99% sure co-sponsor Delgado said the bill, which will surely drop on ILGA web site any minute now, let’s CTA skip any fare increase for a year so they can “focus on operations”
Comment by ChicagoBars Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 8:57 pm
===99% sure ===
100 percent. It’s in the post. Whether that applies to hikes already approved is unclear.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 9:01 pm
I checked and I don’t think it applies retroactively. But we don’t have language yet.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 9:04 pm
To NOT increase fares is ridiculous. even a small amount. everyone with skin in the game. including riders.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 9:31 pm
At least gas will still be 30 cents cheaper south of Springfield
Comment by Hank sauer Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 9:32 pm
To the person saying downstate gets screwed again. You guys already get way more money sent to you than you put in. You are in fact not getting screwed, the rest of the state is.
Also, it mentions downstate has and will keep getting 65% of the road/bridge funding… you are not getting screwed and that narrative needs to end.
Comment by B Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 9:50 pm
So is the amusement tax gone now?
Comment by rarely posts Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 10:32 pm
rarely posts, I see why you rarely post.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 10:35 pm
I uploaded the new transit bill into a Google Notebooklm. You can ask questions about it and get answers quickly.
https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/a3af6564-fb74-4130-b84b-a629c5269f59
Comment by Michael McLean Thursday, Oct 30, 25 @ 10:36 pm