The Illinois Policy

The Illinois Policy Institute serves as a strong advocate for taxpayers across the state. We champion the rights of everyday Illinois residents who have often been overlooked in favor of special interests. Our mission is to educate and involve people from all backgrounds to create a state where everyone can succeed. Illinois should be a state we all take pride in calling home. The Illinois Policy Institute operates as a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research organization. Its partner organization, Illinois Policy, functions as an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) advocacy group. The Illinois Policy Institute upholds several key beliefs: - Civil and personal freedoms must be safeguarded. - Illinois should be an environment where individuals of diverse talents, interests, and cultures can thrive through hard work and creativity. - We advocate for a government that is effective, efficient, honest, and transparent, accountable to taxpayers and residents rather than political interests. - Policies should empower individuals and limit governmental power. - We view the current public pension system, which poses a risk to our state's finances and threatens retirements for public workers, as unjust; however, we believe that reasonable reforms can address this issue. - Property taxes need to be managed to prevent residents from losing their homes. - Workers should have the freedom to decide if a labor union aligns with their values and needs. - Economic policies should prioritize job creation and opportunities for everyone. - Voters should have real choices at the polls, and no politician should feel guaranteed a “safe” seat. - Every child deserves access to educational opportunities that equip them for the future.

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Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break

2 days ago | illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $55.2 billion budget relies on Illinoisans paying over $394 million in new or higher taxes on sports bets, tobacco, short-term rentals and more. At the same time, he’s set to take away a property tax break. Illinois lawmakers approved a record $55.2 billion state budget for fiscal year 2026 on June 1 that relies on Illinoisans paying over $394 million in new or higher taxes on sports bets, tobacco and other activities.
Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes

6 days ago | illinoispolicy.org | Bryce Hill |Ravi Mishra |Lauren Zuar

Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plan surpasses last year’s budget by $2 billion, requiring taxpayers to pay over $800 million in additional costs for yet another year of record spending. With just over 24 hours to conduct a full review, the Illinois General Assembly approved a record-setting $55.2 billion budget for 2026, after a 75-41 House vote sent the 3,000-plus page plan to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra

State leaders rely on budget gimmicks and short-term fixes and they assume speculative proposals will become law and operate exactly as planned just to balance the books, if only on paper. Transparent, laws-on-the-books-based modeling is the only path to long-term stability. Illinois has relied on flawed modeling practices for its budgeting for years.
Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra

With the budget facing a potential $1.2 billion deficit, some ideas on the table include taxing deliveries from companies such as Amazon and digital ads. With a potential $1.2 billion budget deficit, some ideas for from taxpayers includes a tax on digital ad revenue and . Both taxes are likely to add further strain on already overburdened taxpayers and businesses.
Illinois considers hiking tolls and taxing rideshares to cover transit shortfall

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen

Springfield lawmakers are close to hiking road tolls, taxing rideshare services as well as real estate sales for everyone in Cook and the collar counties. Springfield politicians are trying to reach deeper into taxpayers’ pockets who already shoulder some of the heaviest tax burdens in the nation.
Pritzker grows state spending most among past 5 Illinois governors

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen

Gov. J.B. Pritzker increased Illinois’ state spending more during his first six state budgets than any other state leader in terms of raw dollars since Gov. George Ryan, who took office more than 25 years ago. Illinois’ state spending has grown more under Gov. J.B. Pritzker than any other state leader since former Gov. George Ryan, outpacing growth in inflation as expenditures ballooned by more than $12.9 billion.
Illinois’ corporate tax already too high, but Springfield pushes for more

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra

If Illinois state lawmakers follow the Chicago Teachers Union’s push for a 7.92% base corporate tax rate, it can severely hurt Illinois’ competitiveness. Job creators do not need another reason to abandon Illinois. Illinois already burdens businesses with the third-highest corporate income tax rate in the country, has persistently high unemployment and sluggish economic growth, so a corporate tax hike is the last thing the state needs.
State board of education recommends lowering student proficiency standards

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Hannah Schmid

Illinois students are struggling to meet proficiency standards on state assessments. Instead of working to improve student learning, the state wants to lower standards to hide the crisis. Illinois students are struggling and the state ought to invest in improving their mastery of reading and mathematics. Instead, Illinois State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders wants to lower proficiency benchmarks on state assessments.
U.S. House passes federal school choice program, moves to Senate

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Hannah Schmid

The Educational Choice for Children Act continues to progress after it was included in the budget reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. House on May 22. It is cause for hope for 15,000 low-income Illinois students who lost their private-school scholarships in 2023. Illinois students are closer to benefitting from a federal school choice program after it was included in the U.S. House budget reconciliation bill passed May 22 and now on the U.S. Senate floor.
Only 4 states tax services by default, but Illinois may join them

1 week ago | illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen

Adding sales taxes to services is limited in the U.S., with 46 states not generally taxing services. Illinois may break from the pack and start adding sales taxes to haircuts, lawn care, car repair and a long list of other service expected to cost $2.7 billion. Sales taxes are usually applied to goods, not services, but Illinois state lawmakers are currently considering joining the four states that do tax services – a move that could cost Illinoisans $2.7 billion.