Metro East Sun

A group of House Republican lawmakers in Illinois, including State Rep. Kevin Schmidt, have introduced a legislative package aimed at providing relief for working families facing rising costs for goods and services across the state. The Relief for Working Families legislative package seeks to support entrepreneurship, help tipped employees retain their gratuities, and expand opportunities for technical skill-building.

Rep. Brad Stephens, one of the sponsors, emphasized the need to focus on economic growth rather than overregulation or tax increases. “Too often the people in the Capitol focus on the wrong solutions: overregulation, tax increases and overspending will not fix our state. We can’t cut our way out of these budget issues. We must grow our economy,” Stephens said. “With this bill package, we can provide tangible financial relief for hardworking, taxpaying Illinoisans and begin to reshape our state into a destination not only for families, but for students, small businesses, and licensed professionals.”

House Bill 1752, sponsored by Stephens, would create an income tax deduction for employers who provide educational assistance to employees.

Rep. Kyle Moore filed House Bill 1351—the Reducing Barriers to Start Act—to eliminate startup fees faced by new businesses during their first year. This includes all licensing or registration fees.

The package also addresses workforce shortages in trades and manufacturing sectors through education-focused bills. Rep. Mike Coffey’s House Bill 1729—the Reinvest in Future Technical Careers Act—would offer tax credits to those contributing to scholarship funds for students attending technical academies.

“This bill has really come about from conversations I have had during my ‘Mike on Main Street’ tour across the district meeting with different businesses. One common theme has come up every time: we don’t have enough workforce, we need more help,” Coffey said. “They say ‘We don’t have the technical support to fill these positions.’ So the hope is these scholarships will help train individuals to get into the workforce. We need more plumbers, we need more pipefitters, we need more electricians so that we can grow and build Illinois, and that’s the point of this.”

Rep. Kevin Schmidt’s House Bill 3807 proposes establishing the Illinois Trades Retention and Development Encouragement (ITRADE) grant program to assist students seeking degrees or certifications in fields such as electrical work, plumbing, masonry, steel working and construction.

“Many students decide to attend a technical school after graduating high school and this bill promotes the skilled trade industry and helps eligible students receive scholarship funds to pursue a degree or certificate from a qualified technical school in Illinois,” Schmidt said. “It’s important every student has the opportunity to excel in a career after graduating high school, and this bill is aimed to do just that.”

House Deputy Republican Leader Ryan Spain introduced House Bill 3821 to double the education expense income tax credit from $750 to $1500 per year for working families.

To address educator shortages in manufacturing-related fields, Rep. Jed Davis introduced House Bill 1112 allowing highly skilled trade workers without bachelor’s degrees to become educators.

Spain also sponsored House Bill 1383 which creates an income tax deduction on Illinois returns for gratuities reported by tipped workers on federal returns.

Despite being blocked by Democrats during the spring legislative session, House Republicans plan to reintroduce these bills when lawmakers reconvene in October.

“This package is called Relief for Working families because that’s what it will provide,” Moore said. “From furthering your education to starting a new business or simply keeping more of your hard-earned money in your own pocket. Working families need and deserve a break. Together these measures provide a great start to supporting working families and helping set them up for success.”

Schmidt was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois' 114th House District in 2023, succeeding LaToya Greenwood.