Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed

Illinois Quick Hits: Statewide bag tax proposed

February 9, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, has proposed legislation to impose a 10-cent fee on carryout bags at retail establishments, effective Jan. 1.

House Bill 5112 would also increase the tax by 5 cents every year until the fee is 25 cents per bag. The fee would apply to any kind of bag.

HB 5112 would also ban retailers from using plastic bags for delivering goods to consumers.

KANSAS MAN ARRESTED AFTER HIGHWAY SHOOTING IN ILLINOIS

Illinois State Police special agents have arrested a Wichita, Kansas man after a pursuit involving multiple vehicles allegedly being shot at.

ISP says Drew D. Smading, 33, fired a weapon at a vehicle on Highway 13 near Lenzburg on Friday and then fired at four other vehicles before crashing near Sparta.

TAX PREP ASSISTANCE OFFERED

State government officials say free tax preparation help is available for low-to-moderate income families and older adults filing their 2025 income taxes.

The Internal Revenue Service, American Association of Retired Persons’ Foundation Tax-Aide Program, the Ladder Up Tax Assistance Program and the GetYourRefund Program provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in select locations statewide.

Taxpayers can learn more about free tax assistance by visiting IDOR’s website.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

U.S. House passes 10 bills to strengthen homeland security, address terrorism

U.S. House passes 10 bills to strengthen homeland security, address terrorism

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The U.S. House has passed 10 bipartisan bills advanced by the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, which the committee says will strengthen homeland security...
Gulf lawmakers aim to extend state borders to 9 miles offshore

Gulf lawmakers aim to extend state borders to 9 miles offshore

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square A bipartisan coalition of Gulf Coast lawmakers is pushing to change a 73-year-old law that limits their states' maritime boundaries to 3 miles offshore, potentially...
Ongoing border security prosecution efforts: 23 extraditions in one month

Ongoing border security prosecution efforts: 23 extraditions in one month

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Border-crime related prosecutions are ongoing with extraditions playing a key role in prosecutions. The latest extradition to Texas was the 23rd in one month, FBI...
Graham: Man of great faith, fierce fighter for South Carolina, America

Graham: Man of great faith, fierce fighter for South Carolina, America

By Alan WootenThe Center Square From colleagues in both major parties to leaders of foreign nations, appreciation for the public service of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has been overwhelming since...
$424.9M considered for projects at Fire stadium questioned

$424.9M considered for projects at Fire stadium questioned

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council may vote Wednesday on deals to spend $424.9 million of tax increment financing...
Multi-state lawsuit challenges $1B in federal education grant cuts

Multi-state lawsuit challenges $1B in federal education grant cuts

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined with 14 other attorneys general on a lawsuit attempting to stop the U.S. Department of Education from cutting...
Supreme Court justices defend $225 million budget request

Supreme Court justices defend $225 million budget request

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett made a rare appearance before lawmakers on Tuesday to defend the high court’s $225.1 million...
Election 2026: Cooper steps away from responsibility of historic prison release

Election 2026: Cooper steps away from responsibility of historic prison release

By Alan WootenThe Center Square U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper, whose name was on a lawsuit against the NAACP that ended in 2021, on Monday took a clear step away...
Illinois congressman pushes to repeal federal tax cuts

Illinois congressman pushes to repeal federal tax cuts

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Democrat Illinois congressman sparked pushback after urging fellow Democrats to repeal all aspects of President Donald...
Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism

Illinois state diversity leader resigns amid criticism

By Jared Strong | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The head of the embattled Illinois diversity commission has moved to a different state job after a...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago committee approves infrastructure funding around soccer stadium

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago committee approves infrastructure funding around soccer stadium

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council’s finance committee has approved $424.9 million for public access, road improvements, a river...
Retired judge urges federal court to reject key talc researcher's testing

Retired judge urges federal court to reject key talc researcher’s testing

By Daniel Fisher | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A special master hearing evidence behind tens of thousands of lawsuits over Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder has urged the court to...
U.S. inflation cools to 3.5% in better than expected June report

U.S. inflation cools to 3.5% in better than expected June report

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square U.S. inflation decreased by 0.4% in June, for a seasonally adjusted total of 3.5% over the year, driven by rapidly falling energy costs, according to...
Court: Parents can’t sue teachers unions over illegal strikes

Court: Parents can’t sue teachers unions over illegal strikes

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) - Parents do not have legal rights to sue teachers unions for calling illegal strikes, which allegedly lead to learning...
Extreme heat, wildfires sweep the Southwest

Extreme heat, wildfires sweep the Southwest

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Extreme heat and wildfires have defined this summer in the Southwest. Meteorologists are warning residents to be aware of air quality alerts and high temperatures....