Illinois state representatives introduced and passed a $45 billion infrastructure plan on June 1. It will hit up drivers almost immediately, pending expected approval from the Illinois Senate and Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Revenue to pay for that plan comes from higher taxes on gasoline, vehicle registration, cigarettes, parking and more.
The plan doubles Illinois’ state gas tax to 38 cents from 19 cents per gallon, which will vault the total tax burden on Illinois gas beyond states such as New York and California to second-highest in the nation, according to 2018 data from the Tax Foundation. The increase will be effective July 1.
Senate Bill 1939, which hikes the state’s motor fuel tax and vehicle registration fees, was approved by a bipartisan 83-29 vote in the Illinois House of Representatives. Senate Bill 690, which hikes taxes on cigarettes and vaping, as well as parking garages, passed on a bipartisan vote of 87-27. SB 690 also increases the number of casinos in Illinois, legalizes sports betting, and hikes taxes on video gaming, among other changes.
