The bills introduced by this group of legislators, collectively known as the Relief for Working Families legislative package, would encourage entrepreneurship, help tipped employees keep all of their gratuities, and create opportunities for technical skill-building that can lead to high-paying jobs.
“Too often the people in the Capitol focus on the wrong solutions: overregulation, tax increases and overspending will not fix our state. We can’t cut our way out of these budget issues. We must grow our economy,” said Rep. Brad Stephens. “With this bill package, we can provide tangible financial relief for hardworking, taxpaying Illinoisans and begin to reshape our state into a destination not only for families, but for students, small businesses, and licensed professionals.”
Stephens is sponsoring House Bill 1752, which creates an income tax deduction for employers who provide educational assistance for employees.
According to the U.S Treasury, small businesses have created over 70 percent of net new jobs since 2019, by removing the barriers to entrepreneurship means businesses can get up-and-running more quickly and start creating new jobs. To give them this helping hand, Rep. Kyle Moore filed House Bill 1351, the Reducing Barriers to Start Act. His bill will eliminate many of the startup fees that new businesses face, including all first-year business fees relating to licensing or registration.
Education is also a key component of the legislative package. Not only do these bills expand training and employment opportunities for working families, they also address the workforce shortage facing the trades and manufacturing sectors of the economy.
Rep. Mike Coffey is sponsoring House Bill 1729, the Reinvest in Future Technical Careers Act which provides tax credits for those who make authorized contributions to funds that award scholarships to students who attend technical academies. HB 1729 would provide opportunities for those who are not otherwise able to afford the training.
“This bill has really come about from conversations I have had during my ‘Mike on Main Street’ tour across the district meeting with different businesses. One common theme has come up every time: we don’t have enough workforce, we need more help,” Coffey said. “They say ‘We don’t have the technical support to fill these positions.’ So the hope is these scholarships will help train individuals to get into the workforce. We need more plumbers, we need more pipefitters, we need more electricians so that we can grow and build Illinois, and that’s the point of this.”
Rep. Kevin Schmidt’s HB 3807 establishes the Illinois Trades Retention and Development Encouragement (ITRADE) grant program to help students gain a degree or certification in the fields related to the trades like electrical, plumbing, masonry, steel working and construction. A similar education-themed bill was filed by House Deputy Republican Leader Ryan Spain. Spain’s House Bill 3821 would make education more affordable for working families by doubling the current education expense income tax credit from $750 to $1500 a year.
“Many students decide to attend a technical school after graduating high school and this bill promotes the skilled trade industry and helps eligible students receive scholarship funds to pursue a degree or certificate from a qualified technical school in Illinois,” Schmidt said. “It’s important every student has the opportunity to excel in a career after graduating high school, and this bill is aimed to do just that.”
Many manufacturing companies in Illinois have expressed concern over the shortage of a trained workforce to fill their needs. One of the obstacles has been a need for licensed educators. Rep. Jed Davis’ House Bill 1112 opens the door for highly skilled trade workers to become educators, even without a bachelor’s degree, ensuring more experts teaching real-world skills and more opportunities for students to complete their education in manufacturing, engineering, technology or a trade.
House Bill 1383 also sponsored by Deputy Leader Spain, creates an income tax deduction on Illinois tax returns for gratuities which were included in the tipped-workers federal tax returns. The legislation would help those who rely on gratuities to keep more of their earnings instead of turning them over to the government.
The financial wellbeing of Illinois’ working families is a top priority for House Republicans who championed this package of bills throughout the spring legislative session, only to see the bills blocked by Democrats. House Republicans intend to renew their efforts when the House re-convenes for the fall session in October.
“This package is called Relief for Working families because that’s what it will provide,” Moore said. “From furthering your education to starting a new business or simply keeping more of your hard-earned money in your own pocket. Working families need and deserve a break. Together these measures provide a great start to supporting working families and helping set them up for success.”