McLean County Times

A bill aimed at providing property tax relief for seniors has passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly. The legislation, Senate Bill 642, increases the income limit for the Senior Freeze Homestead Exemption from $65,000 to $75,000 for taxes payable in 2027. The threshold will rise further to $77,000 in 2028 and $79,000 in 2029 and beyond. This marks the first adjustment to these limits since 2017.

The bill received unanimous support in both the House and Senate and now awaits action by the Governor. “It was good to see both parties come together and offer some much-needed property tax relief for our seniors. I hope that this will continue next spring as we look at more ways to ease the burden on taxpayers,” said Rep. Jason Bunting.

Rep. Bunting has been a longtime advocate of property tax reform. He was elected as a Republican representative to Illinois' 106th House District in 2023, succeeding Thomas Bennett.

State revenues have also increased during the first four months of the current fiscal year. According to a report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, revenue is up by $474 million compared to last year—a growth of 2.9%. Sales taxes contributed an additional $196 million (a 5.1% increase), while estate and insurance taxes also rose. However, cigarette, public utility, and liquor taxes saw declines.

Transfers-in such as sports wagering grew by $68 million and gaming transfers by $31 million. Federal funds sent to Illinois increased by $126 million or nearly 10%.

In legal news, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has appealed his federal corruption conviction after being sentenced earlier this year to over seven years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving legislative favors exchanged for jobs and benefits tied to a large utility company. Prosecutors found Madigan guilty on ten counts of corruption; his legal team claims there was prosecutorial overreach and insufficient diligence by the court.

“The former Speaker’s lawyers assert that these exchanges of money, jobs and favors were not bribery, merely ‘the rough-and-tumble business of state politics.’”

For families interested in cultural activities, the Museum Authorization Pass remains available for free or discounted admission at Chicago’s Museums in the Park.

The state’s current backlog of unpaid bills stands at approximately $1.56 billion—slightly less than last year’s figure at this time—though it does not include long-term obligations such as pension liabilities exceeding $100 billion.

Other recent headlines affecting Illinois include improvements in how State Police support human trafficking victims, discussions about nuclear power meeting energy demands, new employer laws taking effect in 2026, local agricultural tours for FFA members, and reminders about winter weather preparedness.