Illinois House Republicans are working to protect seniors’ financial security, health, and independence. Whether you hail from Chicago, the suburbs, one of our bustling Downstate cities, or beautiful rural Illinois, House Republicans believe state government should make life more affordable for you. We have introduced and sponsored legislation this year that puts seniors first:
• Feed Illinois Seniors (HB1541)
No one should go hungry, especially seniors on fixed incomes. This bill expands access to nutritious food for older adults across Illinois.
• No Tax on Retirement Income (HR 112)
Retirement income should be off-limits for taxation. House Republicans support ending the “add-on” death tax and protecting seniors’ savings.
• Prescription Drug Affordability Act (HB1697)
Seniors shouldn’t have to choose between medicine and groceries. This act helps lower the cost of prescription drugs statewide.
• Property Tax Relief (HB1789 & HB1746)
Seniors should be able to afford to stay in the home they’ve worked so hard for. These bills would expand property tax exemptions and raise the senior freeze income limit from $65,000 to $80,000 – providing meaningful relief for those on fixed incomes.
House Republicans are fighting for older adults in other ways, too. Legislation backed by State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) to curb an ageist state policy against senior citizen drivers passed the General Assembly this spring and is on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature to become law. House Bill 1226, introduced in partnership with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, raises the age for mandatory road tests for older drivers renewing a driver’s license. The bipartisan effort builds upon a proposal Keicher introduced in 2024 to end the discriminatory practice of requiring behind-the-wheel tests for seniors based on age as the sole factor.
Rep. Keicher is the Chief Co-Sponsor of House Bill 1226, also known as the Road Safety and Fairness Act. The bill raises the age for mandatory driving tests for older drivers renewing their license to age 87 (from the current age of 79) and creates a system for immediate family members to submit a request to the Secretary of State’s Office to review drivers if they have seen cognitive or medical declines that could prevent them from safely operating a vehicle, regardless of age. Reports deemed credible could require the driver to take written, vision and behind-the-wheel tests to keep their license. Once signed into law, the bill will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
“Illinois is the only state in the country that requires driving tests based solely on age, even though data has consistently shown older drivers are actually some of the safest on the road,” said Keicher. “Passing this bill is a long-overdue action to respect our seniors, reduce barriers and annual costs for them to maintain their driving privileges, and see each person as an individual instead of making assumptions about them because of their age.
“I still believe we need to do more so that road tests are determined based on more appropriate factors like driving record and ability to safely operate a vehicle, regardless of age, but this legislation is a critical step forward,” Keicher added.
Meanwhile, State Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) filed legislation this year that would cap the annual increase on seniors’ property tax bill (HB 3723) and a bill that would phase out Illinois’ Estate Tax by the year 2030 (HB 2865), which would particularly help farm families hand their land and assets on to the next generation; instead of forcing their children and grandchildren to sell the family farm just to pay inheritance taxes.
“Seniors in both urban and rural communities should be protected from being taxed out of their homes and out of Illinois,” Rep. Sosnowski said. “We want older adults to stay here and continue leading active lives full of purpose – surrounded by family, friends, and the fruits of the contributions they’ve made to their community. They deserve our respect and a state government that meets their needs.”