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HB 3226

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2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sean Hornbuckle and 4 co-sponsors

HB 3226 requires separate voter referendums to extend/refinance referendum-approved debt and imposes a one-year cooling-off between bond questions.

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Bill Summary · HB 3226

Summary — HB 3226 (Taxpayer Protection Act)

Status: Enacted as Chapter 303 (2025 Laws). Governor signed June 11, 2025. Effective on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Main purpose

HB 3226, titled the Taxpayer Protection Act, places new statewide limits and procedural requirements on how units of local government and school districts issue, extend, reissue, or refinance bonds and other debt that were (or would be) approved by referendum. The stated aims are to (1) prevent automatic renewal or reissuance of referendum-approved debt without voter approval, and (2) require a one-year spacing between referendum questions concerning such debt so taxpayers can observe tax impacts.

Key provisions

  • Referendum authorization required for extensions/reissuance:
    • Bonds or debt originally issued through voter referendum may not be extended or reissued unless a separate referendum authorizes that extension or reissuance.
  • One-year waiting periods:
    • A governmental unit may not submit a question to voters on extending or reissuing referendum-approved bonds until at least one year has passed since the retirement of that bond or debt.
    • A governmental unit may not submit a question to voters on issuing bonds or incurring debt until at least one year has passed since the unit last proposed any bond/debt question in a referendum.
  • Home rule limitation:
    • Regulation of issuing, incurring, extending, or reissuing bonds and debt under this Act is declared an exclusive State power; home rule units may not regulate these matters. The Act is expressly framed as a limitation/denial of home rule authority under Article VII, Section 6(h) of the Illinois Constitution.
  • Property Tax Code change:
    • The Act provides that there shall not be a “service extension base” annual increase unless voters approve the increase by referendum. (Amends provisions in the Property Tax Code — Sections 18-185 and 18-212.)
  • School Code change:
    • Requires school districts, no later than 30 days before submitting a bond or property tax increase question to voters, to send defined “informational material” to each resident of voting age in the district. The bill defines this material and specifies required content (text in the bill outlines what must be included).

Who is affected

  • Units of local government (counties, municipalities, special districts) and school districts across Illinois.
  • Taxpayers and residents (voters) in those jurisdictions — increased role for voter approval and informational notices for school bond/tax referendums.
  • Local governments’ finance officers and governing bodies — procedural constraints on debt management and refinancing.
  • Potentially municipal bond markets and lenders (may affect refinancing options, timing, and borrowing costs).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced in the General Assembly in February 2025; progressed through committees and floor votes in spring 2025.
  • Passed both chambers in early June 2025; signed by legislative leaders and the Governor in June 2025.
  • Enacted as Chapter 303, effective on the 91st day following adjournment sine die (per enactment clause).

Potential impacts (practical effects)

  • Limits ability to refinance or extend referendum-approved debt without seeking voter approval, which could:
    • Slow or complicate debt restructuring and refunding transactions.
    • Increase costs if refinancing cannot proceed quickly or if markets price in higher risk.
    • Require more frequent referendums, increasing voter engagement but also administrative costs.
  • Imposes a one-year “cooling off” period between bond questions, delaying some capital projects or staggered financing plans.
  • Increases transparency for school district bond/tax referendums by requiring mailed informational materials to eligible voters at least 30 days before a vote.

Related legislation: Companion bill HB 1428.

(If you want, I can extract the exact wording required for the school “informational material” and the specific amendments to Sections 18‑185 and 18‑212 from the enrolled/official act text.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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