Benton Fighting for Tax Relief, Quality Healthcare in New Legislative Agenda

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, will fight for tax relief for working families, work to make healthcare better and more affordable, and push additional reforms to make residents’ voices heard in the 2025 legislative session.

“My focus is on helping working families in our state do more, achieve more and worry less,” Benton said. “I’m continuing that effort this year by introducing reforms to bring down property taxes, to put more money in the pockets of working families, to improve the quality of healthcare, and more.”

Benton filed 21 bills this year, addressing a range of issues. They include:
● House Bill 2388, which would raise the threshold for the property tax senior freeze program from $65,000 to $85,000 in light of recent trends in inflation;

● House Bill 2395, which would make union dues tax deductible on state taxes, when no federal tax exemption exists;

● House Bill 3136, which would extend eligibility for the veterans homestead exemption to homes owned by an immediate family caregiver for veterans of World War II and veterans with disabilities, when the caregiver lives there full time with the veteran;

● House Bill 3201, which would prohibit electioneering communications on platforms primarily used by children under the age of 13;

● House Bill 3305, which would close a loophole allowing so-called “dark stores”—former retail spaces which have been repurposed as closed-to-the-public fulfillment centers for online orders—to avoid paying their fair share of property taxes;

● House Bill 3721, which would require insurance plans commencing on or after January 1, 2027 and that cover in-network EMS services to also cover out-of-network EMS services; and

● House Bill 3804, which would require insurance policies to be written in language easily readable and understandable by a person of average education and intelligence.

Benton will also serve as the Vice Chair of the House Prescription Drug Affordability and Accessibility Committee, where he hopes to help improve health and wellness outcomes statewide by ensuring that the medications people need are within reach. For more information about these bills as well as Benton’s other legislation, visit www.ilga.gov.

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