summary
Introduced
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
In Committee
02/17/2026
02/17/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the Capital Area Tourism Authority Act. Establishes the Capital Area Tourism Authority as a political subdivision and unit of local government for the benefit of the general public and for the promotion of business, industry, commerce, and tourism in the City of Springfield, Sangamon County, and the State of Illinois. Provides that, if and only if the Sangamon County Board, by ordinance, imposes a tax under a specified provision of the Counties Code on all hotel operators who engage in business as a hotel operator within a STAR bond district that is established in the territory of the Authority and if the Sangamon County Board also resolves that all of the revenue generated from that tax, as well as all of the tax receipts generated from local sales tax within such a STAR bond district, shall be dedicated to the payment of the project costs for any STAR bond project in such a district and shall be considered pledged STAR revenues under the Statewide Innovation Development and Economy Act, then the Authority may exercise certain economic development powers. Contains provisions concerning the powers and duties of the Authority; the membership of the Board of the Authority; meetings and records of the Board of the Authority; the use of pledged tax revenue; ownership and control of projects financed by the Authority; the investigatory authority of the Board of the Authority; and other matters. Contains legislative findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Capital Area Tourism Authority Act, creating the Capital Area Tourism Authority as a local government entity to promote business, industry, commerce, and tourism in Springfield, Sangamon County, and Illinois. The Authority's powers are contingent on the Sangamon County Board imposing a hotel tax and resolving that the revenue from this tax, along with local sales taxes within a designated STAR bond district (a special economic development zone established under the Statewide Innovation Development and Economy Act), will be dedicated to financing STAR bond projects. If these conditions are met, the Authority can exercise broad economic development powers, including establishing STAR bond districts, issuing bonds, acquiring property, and managing projects. The bill also outlines the Authority's board structure, meeting procedures, investigatory powers, and reporting requirements, while exempting its property from taxation. Importantly, it modifies the Counties Code to allow Sangamon County to use hotel tax revenue for purposes outlined in this new Act, and it changes how STAR bond projects are managed, giving the Authority ownership and control instead of a "master developer" and allowing State sales tax increments to cover up to 100% of project costs.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Assigned to Revenue (on 02/17/2026)
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