Sen. Seth Lewis

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates the Welcome Home Illinois tax credit. Provides that each taxpayer who is a first-time homebuyer of a principal residence in the State during the taxable year is entitled to an income tax credit in an amount equal to $500. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2027 and thereafter, the maximum reduction for the general homestead exemption in all counties shall be the maximum reduction for the immediately preceding taxable year, increased by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index during the 12-month period ending on September 30 of the immediately preceding taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that prescription medicines and products classified as Class III medical devices by the United States Food and Drug Administration that are used for cancer treatment pursuant to a prescription are exempt from the tax under the Acts. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the amount deposited into the Local Government Distributive Fund to: (i) 7.47% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed upon individuals, trusts, estates, and pass-through entities; and (ii) 7.85% of the net revenue realized from the tax imposed upon corporations. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the Home Utility Relief Act. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create, as soon as practicable, a Home Utility Rebate Program to provide rebates to households that use electricity and that have a median household income between 100% and 500% of the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that eligible households shall receive the rebates as soon as practicable after implementation of the program. Requires the Department to, by rule, establish qualifications for program participation which may include requirements that apply under the Energy Assistance Act and other requirements. Provides that rebates provided under the program shall be funded through appropriations made from the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund created under the Act. Requires the State Comptroller to direct and the State Treasurer to transfer $500,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund to provide rebates to qualifying households for State fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Provides that any funds left over at the end of the second month following the conclusion of payments to households in a fiscal year may be awarded to certain qualifying first-time small business owners as determined by the Department. Requires the Department to adopt emergency rules in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to implement the program. Amends the State Finance Act to include the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund as a special fund. Effective immediately.

Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act. Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Program, to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to provide scholarship assistance until July 1, 2031 to eligible students for engineering-related study at a public university who agree to work as an engineer for the Department of Transportation for a period of not less than 3 years. Allows the Commission to award scholarships to pay the tuition and fees of a student enrolled in an approved program of professional engineering education for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment. Provides for an additional stipend in an amount not to exceed $10,000. Establishes the total amount of scholarship assistance, the application process, eligibility requirements, and payments and repayments. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act to require the Board of Higher Education to establish and administer a competitive grant program for public institutions of higher education that award degrees in engineering. Repeals the Act on July 1, 2032.

Maddy summaryHB 4438 designates the Black-and-Gold Bumblebee (*Bombus auricomus*) as Illinois' official state bee under the State Designations Act. This symbolic bill directly affects all Illinois residents by adding a new state symbol, similar to existing designations like the state flower or bird. The key provision simply amends the State Designations Act to include this specific bumblebee species in official state references. The bill has no regulatory or financial impact, as it is purely a ceremonial designation. It was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Rules Committee.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, use and occupation taxes on motor fuel and gasohol are imposed at the rate of 1.25%. Makes corresponding changes concerning the distribution of proceeds. Effective immediately.

Maddy summarySB 3873 permanently extends Illinois' research and development (R&D) tax credit for businesses. It amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make the R&D credit permanent, removing any expiration date. This change directly affects businesses that claim R&D credits on their state tax returns, providing ongoing eligibility without needing annual legislative renewal. The credit applies immediately upon the bill's effective date, offering predictable tax relief for qualifying companies investing in innovation.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act. Creates the Fairness in Property Tax Foreclosure Task Force. Sets forth the membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall study and make recommendations concerning issues associated with property foreclosure for failure to pay property taxes. Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for continued funding to the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. Effective July 1, 2026.