IllinoisLocal governments hold hearings before choosing card payments
Local governments and community colleges decide after a public hearing whether to accept card payments, while people may pay several tax bills in one transaction.
What it does
Before choosing to accept card payments for a type of bill, a local government or community college must hold a public hearing and find that the choice serves the public and the entity.
Entities that accept card payments may hire processors under agreements that list services and fees. They may approve certain fees only after finding that any resulting revenue reduction serves the entity's best interest.
People may pay several tax bills in one transaction unless the local government's ordinance or rules prohibit it.
Argument forCard payments could make it easier for the public to pay bills and help local entities manage cash flow.
Argument againstPeople paying by card could face surcharges or convenience fees when an entity agrees to charge them.
More detail
A local entity must hold a public hearing before deciding to accept card payments for a type of bill. This applies to local governments and community colleges deciding whether to accept card payments for a type of obligation. The governing body must find that accepting card payments for the listed bills serves the public and the entity. The hearing rule has an exception described in subsection (b) of Section 20-25 of the Property Tax Code. The hearing must be held 10 to 30 days after public notice.
An entity that accepts card payments may make agreements with banks or other processors to handle them. This applies to local governments and community colleges that accept card payments. Agreements must list the services, each fee, and how each fee will be paid. A discount or processing fee may be approved only if the governing body finds that any resulting revenue reduction is in the entity's best interest. Fees paid or withheld cannot exceed the amounts allowed under Section 25. An agreement cannot block or discriminate against the State Treasurer's E-Pay program or another payment system the entity has obtained. The entity may cancel an agreement with reasonable notice.
A person may pay multiple tax bills in one transaction. This applies to people paying tax bills to a local government. The governing body may prohibit this by ordinance or rule.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 21Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0848Latest
- Aug 21Effective Date August 21, 2026
- Aug 21Governor J. B. Pritzker ApprovedBecame Law
- Jun 29Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 31Passed Both Houses
- Vote recorded Concurrence, Amendment 2. Result: pass.Upper
- May 31Senate Concurs
- May 31House Floor Amendment No. 2 Senate Concurs 057-000-000
- May 30House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion To Concur Recommended Do Adopt State Government; 009-000-000
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 2. Result: pass.Upper
- May 30House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Assignments Referred to State Government
- May 30House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Assignments
- May 30House Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Filed with Secretary Sen. Meg Loughran CappelMinor
- May 30Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence House Amendment(s) 2 - May 31, 2026
- May 30Secretary's Desk - Concurrence House Amendment(s) 2
- May 29Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 110-000-002Passed House
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 29Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- May 29House Floor Amendment No. 2 AdoptedMajor
- May 22Third Reading/Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2026
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 2. Result: pass.Lower
- May 22House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee; 009-000-000Minor
- May 21House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee
- May 20House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
- May 20House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Barbara HernandezMinor
- May 19Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 19Second Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 12Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech
- May 6Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short DebateMinor
- May 5House Committee Amendment No. 1 TabledMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5Do Pass / Short Debate Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee; 011-000-000
- May 4House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
- May 4House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Barbara HernandezMinor
- Apr 27Assigned to Financial Institutions and Licensing CommitteeMinor
- Mar 27Referred to Rules Committee
- Mar 27First ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Chief House Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Arrived in HouseMinor
- Mar 26Third Reading - Passed; 046-000-000Passed Senate
- Mar 11Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 12, 2026
- Mar 11Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 5Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris III
- Mar 5Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 10, 2026Minor
- Mar 5Do Pass as Amended Local Government; 009-000-000
- Mar 4Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 AdoptedMajor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Do Pass, Amendment 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes
- Mar 3Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Local Government
- Feb 26Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
- Feb 26Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran CappelMinor
- Feb 25Postponed - Local Government
- Feb 17Assigned to Local GovernmentMinor
- Feb 3Referred to Assignments
- Feb 3First ReadingMinor
- Feb 3Filed with Secretary by Sen. Meg Loughran CappelIntroduced
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