It’s just a bill
Thursday, Feb 13, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Crain’s…
Illinois, whose notoriously high property taxes are a constant source of grief for property owners, should look into abandoning the concept and relying more on income taxes for revenue, according to a bill introduced in Springfield last week.
It’s an ambitious five-year plan. Research should start forthwith to “determine the feasibility of eliminating, by no later than January 1, 2030, the property tax system in the state,” says HB3338, introduced Feb. 7 by Rep. Thaddeus Jones, 29th-Calumet City. […]
The Jones bill is more specific about the direction the state should go than a law passed by both houses last year and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in August. That measure requires the Department of Revenue to undertake a “comprehensive review” of the property tax system, but doesn’t mention shutting it all down.
The 2024 law is similar to a law Pritzker signed in August 2019 creating a property tax relief task force. The report that resulted recommended reforming the assessment process, reorganizing school funding and other measures, but didn’t call for ending the state’s property tax system that dates to the early 1900s.
* WAND…
Illinois House Democrats have a new bill that would allow migrants with federal work permits to become firefighters.
Under current law, anyone applying to become a firefighter has to be a U.S. citizen.
State Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) said she wants to be clear that undocumented immigrants will not be allowed to take the job.
“They automatically think I’m helping undocumented individuals or I’m allowing them to be firefighters. That is not the case,” Hernandez said. “This is only for individuals that have federal approval to work here.”
Migrants that apply for the job will still have to go through the same recruitment and training process that is required of every firefighter.
* Rep. Kam Buckner filed HB3256 earlier this month…
Creates the People Over Parking Act. Provides that, except as otherwise provided in the Act, a unit of local government may not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirements on a development project if the project is located within one-half mile of a public transportation hub. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Effective June 1, 2025.
* WICA…
Illinois judicial campaigns have become very expensive, with interest groups and wealthy donors throwing around lots of cash to get their favorite judge on the bench. This has raised questions about the fairness of the election and money’s influence on the campaign.
Sen. Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) filed a bill looking to reduce the influence of private donors in Supreme Court and Appellate Court races. This will allow candidates to use public funds instead of interest group funds. She filed the bill in response to the record-breaking amount of money spent in the 2022 Illinois Supreme Court Elections. […]
“The goal is to allow all judges to have the same opportunity, “ Ventura said. “And to get rid of that kind of off-putting feeling that someone is donating to a judge who may then later be making decisions that harm or hurt them or help them.” […]
The bill proposes a public financing program for Supreme Court and Appellate Court candidates through the Judicial Election Democracy Trust Fund.
* SB1874 from Sen. Patrick Joyce…
Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions regarding a certificate of public convenience and necessity, makes changes to the limitations on the construction of a nuclear power reactor. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, construction may commence on an advanced nuclear reactor (rather than a new nuclear power reactor with a nameplate capacity of 300 megawatts of electricity or less) within the State under specified conditions. Defines “advanced nuclear reactor”. Makes other changes.
* Rep. Jed Davis…
State Representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) recently filed three bills aimed at supporting students with disabilities, offering more resources to their parents, and promoting new disability training for teachers, staff, and administrators in Illinois schools.
“These bills are a game-changer – giving students with disabilities, their families, and educators the real support they deserve,” said Rep. Davis.
- House Bill 1097 allows parents or guardians to record audio during meetings regarding their child’s individualized education program (IEP).
- House Bill 1106 lets school districts create volunteer Special Education Advisory Committees when parents request them.
- House Bill 1107 requires school staff training to better understand and support students with disabilities.
Rep. Davis concluded, “These bills tackle multiple weak spots in current Illinois law addressing students with disabilities. Together, we can create a framework for children, parents, and educators to ensure all Illinois students succeed.”
These are three of the twelve bills included in Rep. Davis’ Protecting Kids Bill Package.
* Meanwhile… In Indiana. The Post-Tribune…
A bill aimed at attracting the Chicago Bears, or another sports franchise, to Northwest Indiana passed out of the Indiana House Ways and Means committee Tuesday with two amendments.
House Bill 1292 would establish a Northwest Indiana professional sports development commission, which would study plans to attract one or more professional sports franchises.
The commission would be tasked with creating a comprehensive master plan for building the facilities needed to attract one or more professional sports franchises in the region.
The House Ways and Means Committee amended the bill Tuesday to remove language about paying any state employee on the commission travel expenses and non-state employee commissioners the minimum salary per diem and reimbursement for travel outlined in state code.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 9:26 am:
=Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, construction may commence on an advanced nuclear reactor (rather than a new nuclear power reactor with a nameplate capacity of 300 megawatts of electricity or less) within the State under specified conditions. Defines “advanced nuclear reactor”. Makes other changes=
Yet another bill meant to impose the Dem’s environmental vision on the state of Illinois. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act that passed in 2021 has effectively locked Illinois out of any new Natural Gas power plant construction. Ironically the Grid operator that we all rely on PJM– is prioritizing up to 50 new Natural Gas plants to ensure reliability across their marketplace – those plants with all their jobs and economic development will be sited elsewhere.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/business/energy-environment/gas-power-plants-electric-grid.html
- Sue - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 9:43 am:
Complain as you may about property taxes but do the suburbs want Chicago progressives determining how much money go to your schools
- just because - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 9:52 am:
Do I see a republican representative introducing a unfunded mandate to schools in HB1107??.. don’t get me wrong I like the bill…but what about the usual rhetoric..
- H-W - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 9:53 am:
I cannot for the life of me figure out how abandoning local funding of schools through real property taxes would work.
I do remember Governor Edgar discussion State Funding of Public Education in the 1990s. But that idea never got off the ground. And it would be a very hard sell to suggest the state receive all education revenues and then the state dole them out on a per pupil basis.
The state would have to produce far more income to do so, and the affluent and middle class communities would still spend local monies on the education of their children through local taxes. But they would be spending a lot less thanks to additional state funding for suburban schools.
And then there is the issue of private schools working to be included in the funding formula from which they are currently excluded.
I just do not see how this model would work to increase the quality of education in those places that require additional funding to increase the quality of education. Teachers will still be rewarded better in middle an upper-income districts, attracting the best teachers.
Poorer communities will still be relatively poorer unless the state equalizes all total spending on education, which is not going to happen.
And local businesses will pay less property taxes, thereby investing less in education at the local level.
I am glad it is “just a bill.”
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 9:54 am:
= should look into abandoning the concept and relying more on income taxes for revenue,=
LOL, batten down the hatches folks. You think the system is messed up now? b The state has historically been (and I am being nice) unreliable with education funding. We are now hearing the “proration” word again again for the next few years. This will only make it worse and, it pains me to say, but @Sue is correct about legislators from Chicago and the impact on funding for the rest of us.
Our current system stinks. Our local taxpayers, in a lower middle to middle class rural community, are responsible for 80% or more of our funding (and it is the same for all of the districts around us, and I mean all). The good news is that the state and federal government cannot hurt us too bad if there are cuts. It is crappy for our community when those that live in Cicero are responsible for only 15-20% of their costs.
This proposal will to more partisan and geographical fighting and fiscal instability for schools. Because Illinois.
Unless they raise income taxes across the board…that is.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 10:14 am:
IF Property Taxes for public schools and/or local governments are eliminated, there will be an immediate upward spike in housing prices. A real beneficiary will be out of state property owners, as they won’t be won’t be paying the increased taxes to make up for the reduced revenues.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 10:17 am:
I will say this on school funding, Ralph Martire had a plan back in the mid 2000’s that probably would have worked. Nobody liked it, but that man was right most of the time. Had we listened to him back then we would be in a very, very different financial position debt wise than we are now.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 10:29 am:
=there will be an immediate upward spike in housing prices.=
Wait, what? For the last few years one of the biggest gripes of the ilgop/gop has been housing costs. And now an increase (on top of the increases) is good? I am shocked.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 10:46 am:
Everyone will be all for the elimination of property taxes. They throw a fit about an increase in the income tax to make up for the lost revenue.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 10:59 am:
What @Demoralized stated plus 1.
- Telly - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 11:04 am:
== Yet another bill meant to impose the Dem’s environmental vision on the state ==
I bet a lot of Republicans and business groups will be for Senator Joyce’s bill to expand nuclear power.
- Donnie Elgin - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 11:17 am:
= Expand nuclear power=
It expands nuclear power with massive restrictions to only unproven SMR. So just as we lose out to other states on new Natural Gas plants; this bill would make IL lose out on any large utility-scale Nuclear plants. The futility of state lawmakers making Illinois so business-unfriendly is beyond me.
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 11:49 am:
The legislators who plan to draw sports teams to NWI are wasting their time and efforts. The Mascot Hall of Fame opened in 2018 in Whiting, In. Due to low attendance and lack of interest, the facility closed in 2024. A multi- million dollar facility now converted to office space for BP.
NWI lacks infrastructure and public transportation to support any facilities for athletic teams. The legislators should turn their attention to quality of life issues—-the air, water, and soil pollution that has existed for decades in NWI.
- Lagartha's Shield - Thursday, Feb 13, 25 @ 11:54 am:
HB 1106 - whew. That summary is misleading. It doesn’t “let” districts and co-ops form advisory committees. It requires them if requested by more than three parents. This legislation is also completely unworkable in practical regards and assumes that parents know and understand special education law, regulations, and best practices for instruction far better than any of the professional educators who have dedicated their careers to serving these students.