IL Republican lawmakers file batch of bills to boost relief for families

Yahoo

03-03-2025

Springfield, Ill. (WCIA) – House Republicans filed several bills that aim to reduce the financial burden on middle-class small business owners and increase the state's economy.
The introduced bills include reducing registration and license fees for businesses and removing taxes on tips, increasing education tax credits and allowing people skilled in the trades to teach without degrees. In a news conference Thursday, Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Norridge) said their focus is to grow the economy of all businesses, particularly small shops, without increasing taxes.
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Under the current law, any workers who receive tips have to pay taxes on the tips they receive.
Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) filed a bill that would change that by removing state income tax on tips. This means service workers in Illinois, from waiters to bartenders, won't have to pay state income tax. If passed this legislation will only be applied to state tax, not federal tax.
One of the introduced bills, by Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville), will waive the fees for any business looking to renew their license. To qualify for the fee waiver you must show proof with either a W-2 form or any other tax document that shows you made less than $ 50,000 in the previous year. This applies to business owners who require state licenses to operate.
Similar bills filed by Rep. Kyle Moore (R-Quincy) and backed by House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) would eliminate fees for all first-year business license fees for any new business and home-based business in Illinois. Currently, business license prices depend on the municipality and the type of business.
'There are many incentives to encourage large employers to set up shop in Illinois and that's certainly important to have in our toolbox. But your neighbor, who is a banker who wants to go from their kitchen to a storefront, also deserves to have similar incentives,' Moore said. 'Small businesses support families. They provide vital local tax revenue for our communities. Eliminating startup fees will help working families achieve their dreams and further boost small business growth in Illinois.'
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Additional bills aimed to increase the state trade program and ease the pathway for people interested in plumbing, and construction. The following legislation by Rep. Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) will allow people who are skilled and experienced in their respective work fields to teach manufacturing, engineering and trade without a bachelor's degree.
'I've gone across the district meeting with different businesses. And one common theme that comes up every single time is we don't have enough workforce, we need more help, particularly in the construction industry where we've mandated hiring practices,' Rep. Mike Coffey (R- Springfield) said.
Coffey filed a similar bill of his own that will create scholarships for students attending vocational schools. Another part of the bill proposes the Department of Revenue give tax credits to people who donate to organizations that award scholarships for vocational schools.
Coffey said this will open opportunities to students and tackle the staff shortage.
'They say, Mike, here's the problem. We don't have the technical support to fill these positions,' he said. 'We've got the work. We've got a year's worth of work, two years, three years worth of work, but we don't have the manpower. So the purpose of this bill is to help. And, you know, one of the things that we need more people trained.'
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Another bill would increase tax credits on education expenses. The bill, filed by Spain, will increase tax credits from $750 to $1,500 for families who pay for their kids' school expenses from kindergarten through high school in public and private schools.
The credits and fee waivers proposed come during a difficult year for budgeting, Governor JB Pritzker said. During his budget address, he told the General Assembly if they want to spend, he will ask them where they want to cut.
Stephens said that creating these financial incentives will create more jobs and make people invest back in the state.
'It's about putting more money in folks' pockets and then they will have more disposable dollars to be able to spend and purchase goods and services around the state,' Stephens said.
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