Illinois Gas Tax Will Double, Sports Gambling Bill Passes

SPRINGFIELD — During a productive weekend, Illinois lawmakers voted to double the state's gas tax from 19 cents to 38 cents to fund a $45 billion capital plan. They also voted to legalize sports gambling, signed off on a Chicago casino and passed a $39.9 billion state budget.

The motor fuel tax bill, passed Saturday by the House and Sunday by the Senate, means Illinois drivers will pay more at the pump starting July 1 once the legislation gets Gov. JB Prizker's signature.

Meanwhile, another bill approved by state lawmakers will hike taxes on cigarettes and vaping, legalize sports betting and increase the number of casinos in Illinois — including a new casino in Chicago.

The Chicago casino would be privately owned and the city would receive one-third of the tax revenue generated by it, according to ABC Chicago.

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In a statement released late Sunday, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot thanked Pritzker and state lawmakers for legislation "advancing our shared vision of a stronger, more equitable future for Chicago and Illinois. We are securing new resources to improve our parks, schools, public transportation and roads through a new capital bill; new revenue for the City and the end to an old inequity through legalized cannabis; and the first step in approval for a Chicago casino that will help shore up the City's seriously underfunded pension funds and creating new jobs."

The motor fuel tax and sports gambling votes come days after state lawmakers sent a bill legalizing recreational marijuana to Pritzker's desk. Lawmakers also signed off on a Pritzker-backed reproductive rights bill establishing abortion as a "fundamental right" in the state of Illinois and approved a balanced state budget.