Budget & Taxes (Sales Tax)

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, tangible personal property that is purchased for the improvement of residential or nonresidential real estate by the installation of a solar energy system that is primarily used to provide electricity to the premises is exempt from taxation under the Acts.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates sales tax holiday periods for clothing, school supplies, diapers, wipes, and hygiene products. Provides that the sales tax periods shall run from January 1 through January 7 of 2027 and each year thereafter and from August 1 through August 7 of 2027 and each year thereafter. Requires retailers to clearly label sales tax holiday items as such in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Revenue. Requires the Department of Revenue to establish a public awareness campaign in connection with the sales tax holiday program. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, and the Vehicle Use Tax Article of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the taxes under those Acts do not apply to a motor vehicle that is registered in the State to an Illinois resident who acquired the vehicle while the Illinois resident was stationed outside of this State as an active duty member of the military.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, "prescription and nonprescription medicines and drugs" includes cannabis purchased by a qualified registered patient, provisional patient, or designated caregiver from a dispensing organization registered under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act or the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Amends the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Adds, changes, and provides for the repeal of certain definitions. Makes conforming changes to terms in the Act. Repeals certain provisions on June 30, 2026. Adds references to the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, supplanting certain provisions in the Act on July 1, 2026. Provides for repeal of certain provisions on January 1, 2027, subjecting certain activities to the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Repeals certain provisions. Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Adds and changes definitions. Makes conforming changes to terms in the Act. Removes certain references and provides for repeal of certain provisions related to the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Makes provisions regarding mergers of certain licenses and medical patient prioritization. Provides for Adult Use Dispensing Organization licensee relocation. Provides for rescission of a conditional license, with certain requirements. Makes changes to provisions regarding Adult Use Dispensing Organization Licenses. Adds to requirements for Responsible Vendor Program Training modules. Adds new prohibitions and exceptions to provisions regarding changes to a dispensing organization. Requires prioritizing qualifying patients, provisional patients, and dedicated caregivers, with certain requirements. Adds certain State agencies and local health officials to provisions regarding investigations. Makes changes to provisions regarding Cultivation Center Licenses. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a municipality may, by ordinance, designate an area within its jurisdiction as a retail improvement abatement area if the area (i) is a contiguous area, (ii) consists of at least one-half square mile and  not more than 12 square miles, exclusive of lakes and waterways, and (iii) has a vacancy rate for retail properties that exceeds 40% at the time the ordinance is adopted. Provides that owners of retail property that is in a retail improvement abatement area may enter into one or more agreements with any of the taxing districts in which the property is located to abate all or a portion of the taxes levied by the taxing district on the subject property. Provides that the agreement shall require the property owner to make a special payment to the taxing district in lieu of the property taxes that would otherwise be imposed on the property.

Amends the Tobacco Products Tax Act of 1995. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a remote retail seller without first having obtained a license to do so from the Department of Revenue. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2026, any person engaged in business as a remote retail seller of tobacco products shall be taxed at the rate of 45% of the wholesale price of tobacco products sold or otherwise disposed of to retailers or consumers located in the State. Defines "remote retail seller" as a person located inside or outside of the State who makes remote retail sales. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that taxes imposed under the Special County Occupation Tax For Public Safety, Public Facilities, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Transportation Law may, in addition to other things, be used for food pantries. Renames the Special County Occupation Tax For Public Safety, Public Facilities, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Transportation Law to the Special County Occupation Tax For Public Safety, Public Facilities, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Transportation, or Food Pantries Law. Makes conforming changes in the Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administration Act.

Amends the Use Tax Act and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Creates a sales tax holiday period for certain school supplies from August 2, 2026 through August 11, 2026. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that not less than 50% (rather than 75%) of the amounts collected by a municipality within DuPage County pursuant to the municipal hotel operators' occupation tax and municipal hotel use tax shall be used to promote tourism within that municipality. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, is authorized to create and award capacity building grants to municipalities whose equalized assessed value, total State sales tax disbursements, or both combined, decreased at least 30% over the 10 years preceding the issuance of the grant. Provides for the adoption of rules. Effective immediately.