Rockford Sun

The Illinois Supreme Court has upheld a lower court's ruling blocking controversial election legislation signed by Governor JB Pritzker in May. State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley), who opposed the bill, expressed relief that the courts rejected what he described as an attempt to reduce voters' choices and manipulate the electoral process. The ruling ensures that candidates who collected the required petition signatures by the official deadline will be placed on the ballot.

Senate Bill 2412 aimed to halt slating candidates for current election cycle vacancies, even as they were collecting petition signatures and preparing to run. Republican lawmakers criticized it as benefiting Democratic incumbents and reducing voter choice. The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed that the law was unconstitutional since it attempted to alter election rules mid-cycle.

In related news, with a new school year underway, the Illinois Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers of available tax credits for K-12 student expenses on their 2024 income tax returns. The Illinois Education Expense Credit allows parents or guardians to claim a 25 percent credit on qualified education expenses over $250, up to $750. Homeschooling families can also benefit from this credit.

Additionally, educators in Illinois can claim up to $500 for out-of-pocket classroom material expenses through the K-12 Instructional Materials and Supplies Tax Credit. Jointly filing educator spouses can claim up to $1,000.

A new law introduced earlier this year aims to educate drivers about hazardous materials following a tragic accident involving a tanker carrying hazardous substances. Senate Bill 3406 requires information on hazardous material placards in driver’s education programs to prevent similar accidents.

Illinois reported record tourism growth in 2023, welcoming 112 million visitors resulting in $47 billion in spending—a significant increase from previous years according to Tourism Economics data. The economic impact of tourism activity reached $83 billion in 2023. The DCEO is offering $5 million in tourism funding opportunities through various grant programs.