Bill > HB4259

This bill amends Illinois law to expand the existing Special County Occupation Tax to include food pantries as an authorized purpose for which counties can impose a local sales tax. Specifically, the bill allows county boards to add food pantry purposes to the list of potential uses for a special local sales tax, which already includes public safety, public facilities, mental health, substance abuse, and transportation. The bill provides a detailed ballot language template for counties to use when proposing a food pantry tax, which would allow voters to approve a quarter-percent sales tax increase to support local food pantries. The tax would be collected by the Illinois Department of Revenue and can be imposed only after approval by a majority of voters in a county referendum. Counties would have the option to include a sunset provision that would automatically terminate the tax after a specified number of years. The amendment ensures that the tax can be used specifically to support food pantry operations and services, giving counties an additional funding mechanism to address food insecurity in their communities.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=4259&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104