From State Senator Don DeWitte:
State lawmakers were back in Springfield last week for the first two days of the annual fall Veto Session.
During the 2025 spring session, 436 bills passed through both chambers of the General Assembly and were sent to the Governor for final action.
Of those measures, four bills were vetoed, including two total vetoes, one reduction veto, and one amendatory veto.
While no action was taken on any of the vetoed legislation last week, lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol on October 28, which will present another opportunity for lawmakers to advance new legislation or revive bills introduced earlier this year.
Democrats Present New “Wish List” of New Tax and Fee Hikes to Fund Public Transit
Last week during a committee hearing in Springfield, a new “wish list” of revenue proposals was introduced as possible sources to solve the public transit fiscal cliff and fund an improved public transit system in the future. As a reminder, the public transit region in Illinois includes the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will.
Some combination of the items presented are likely to be included in the public transit reform bill that ultimately comes before lawmakers. The Democrats leading the discussion are wanting $1.5 billion in new revenue to support transit.
Just some of the items included on this new wish list include:
- A $1 surcharge on all tolls
- A $1 delivery charge for items delivered to people’s doors for orders that exceed $100
- A 25-cent increase in CTA fares for trains and buses in the City of Chicago
- A 10% tax on all rideshare trips within the Chicago Transit region (Uber, Lyft, etc.)
- A ticket surcharge of $5-$10 on large event tickets at venues that can seat more than 10,000 people
- A 25% surcharge on tolls to be paid one time per day
- A fee of 3-cents per kw/h tax on electric vehicle charging at public charging stations
- A new real estate transfer tax of $1.50 per every $500 for all property sales in the collar counties (Cook County already has this tax in place)
- A new tax on services (haircuts, oil changes, etc.)
- A payroll tax (head tax) for those working in the City of Chicago
- Increased speed camera usage in the RTA Region
- A new tax on vehicle sales
- An increase in the RTA sales tax paid in the RTA region
I feel strongly that the ultimate transit solution must not place the majority of the new financial burden on
- suburban and
- downstate Illinoisans,
but as I review the latest proposal, it is clear that those living outside of Chicago and Cook County are being expected to take on the brunt of the costs.
We could see transit legislation during the second week of veto session (October 28-30) or possibly early in 2026.
