The Times Weekly, Staff
On Friday, State Representative Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) filed legislation to cap sales tax on gas in Illinois. House Bill 5723 caps the sales tax on gas at 18 cents per gallon for motor fuel and 80% of that amount for gasohol and biodiesel.
“This is a commonsense solution at a time when we are facing record high gas prices in Illinois,” said Rep. Batinick. “Because the state charges a percentage on the cost of gasoline for sales tax, there is a huge government windfall of money when these prices spike. The state should not experience this bump in revenue on the backs of consumers—particularly middle- and lower-income consumers—who are already suffering financially from inflation and high gas prices. This legislation will put a cap on the sales tax to eliminate this windfall and help Illinois families in these financially difficult times.”
According to AAA, the gas price average is $4.565 for Illinois and $4.325 nationally, as of March 14th, 2022. In the Chicago Metro area, AAA also reported the highest recorded average gas price on March 11th, 2022, for regular unleaded gasoline ($4.673) and March 14th, 2022, for diesel ($4.984).
This legislation is written to go into effect 30 days after it is signed into law. Rep. Batinick is a member of the International Trade & Commerce Committee.