(This story was updated because a previous version included an inaccuracy.)
SPRINGFIELD – Since Illinois lawmakers got back to work in January, they began introducing legislation.
We took a look at some of the bills that were filed last week.
Here are a few to keep an eye on.
‘Billionaire wealth tax in Illinois’
State Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, introduced legislation that would establish a “billionaire wealth tax in Illinois,” according to a news release sent out by Villa.
The bill aims to protect essential services from looming cuts in federal funding.
Currently, the income tax system largely focuses on wages rather than overall change in financial resources, allowing the wealthiest individuals to avoid paying taxes on massive increases in wealth, according to the release. Senate Bill 3376 aims to address the inequality by applying Illinois’ personal income tax to the appreciation of billionaires’ assets.
The bill is part of a series of initiatives backed by the Illinois Revenue Alliance, a coalition of labor unions, community-based organizations and legal advocacy centers. The measures seek to modernize Illinois’ tax code to create a fairer, more equitable system.
Villa in the release cited the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, saying Illinois has the eighth most regressive tax system in the nation.
ICE agents would not be able to become Illinois law enforcement officers
State Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, introduced a bill that would prevent newly hired U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents from serving as law enforcement officers in Illinois.
The Prohibited Hiring of Federal Immigration Officers Act, or Senate Bill 2820, would prohibit police departments in Illinois from hiring anyone who was employed by ICE as a federal immigration officer between Jan. 20, 2025 and Jan. 20, 2029 as a law enforcement officer.
“Police officers occupy positions of public trust,” Fine stated in a news release. “My district is one of many communities across the state that has repeatedly voiced concerns about increased ICE activity in our neighborhoods, schools, shopping centers and public spaces, and it’s time we take action against threats to public safety.”
Fine takes issue with the amount of training ICE agents receive, which she said has dropped from 16 weeks of training to now less than seven weeks since President Donald Trump took office.
“Our state and local law enforcement in Illinois receive extensive training and hold themselves to a high standard. They are trained to de-escalate dangerous situations and build community trust. We would never let any one of them go into the field with only 47 days of training. This bill represents a vital step toward creating a safer, more just environment for everyone, regardless of immigration status,” Fine wrote.
Landlords would include all mandatory service fees in a property’s listed base rent
State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, introduced a package of legislation aimed at addressing “the growing role of private equity firms in Illinois’ housing market, which has driven up home prices, reduced housing availability and turned residential properties into high-profit investment assets while many Illinois families struggle to find affordable places to live,” according to a news release.
Senate Bill 3363 would require landlords to include all mandatory service fees in a property’s listed base rent, preventing renters from being surprised by additional charges after signing a lease.
The measure would ensure tenants have clear and transparent information about the true cost of housing before entering into rental agreements and bans predatory insurance requirements.
Senate Bill 3674 would give tenants the right of first refusal when a property is put up for sale, allowing residents to purchase their building before it can be sold to outside investors, including private equity firms.
The legislation would also allow tenants in multi-unit buildings to coordinate joint purchase offers, expanding opportunities for community ownership and long-term housing stability.
Senate Bill 3501, known as Restock the Block, would establish a fee on private equity firms purchasing existing residential properties. Revenue generated from the fee would be directed toward grants for public and affordable housing development, helping rebuild housing supply and reinvest in communities impacted by corporate consolidation of housing.
Domestic violence amendment
A bill filed by State Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Lemont, would amend Illinois law to add “coercive control” as a type of abuse, making it unlawful to engage in coercive control over a household member.
House Bill 4659 defines coercive control as, “a pattern of behavior that interferes with a person’s free will and personal liberty.” It could look like isolating a household member from friends or family against their will, restricting access to finances, monitoring communications, using degrading language, making threats, or exerting control through intimidation or fear.
“With this legislation, Illinois will be taking a more proactive stance in addressing domestic violence before it escalates to physical violence,” La Ha stated in a news release. “This bill will bring Illinois law in line with federal standards that already recognize coercion in cases of human trafficking. We must recognize that many forms of nonphysical violence are just as harmful as physical, and we must protect all victims of domestic violence.”
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: New legislation filed in Illinois includes ‘billionaire wealth tax’
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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