SPRINGFIELD – With gas prices soaring across Illinois and the nation, State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) is backing legislation to suspend the state sales tax on gas for six months.
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As of the first week of April, the average price of gasoline hit $4.27/gallon in central Illinois. Motorists are being squeezed at the pumps not only because of world events affecting oil prices, but because Illinois has the second-highest gas tax in the nation, currently 48.3 cents/gallon. On top of that, Illinois charges a state sales tax of 6.25% on the price of gas (5% State/1.25% local governments).
Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer is sponsoring House Bill 5738 to suspend the state sales tax on gas for six months, from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
“Working families and seniors were already struggling with the high cost of living in Illinois,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said. “Now they are feeling serious pain at the pumps when they fill up on gas. To provide some relief from high gas prices, we should suspend the sales tax on gas for the rest of the year. Illinois has done this before, and we need to do it again now. It’s the least the State can do to deliver some much-needed relief to our residents.”
During the October 2025 Veto Session, Governor JB Pritzker and the Democrat majority enacted a $2.5 billion bailout of Chicago’s mass transit system. The Democrats’ Mass Transit Bailout included the largest Road Fund raid in Illinois history. SB 2111 broke the longstanding transportation funding deal that was a 55/45 Downstate/Chicago split. The Democrats’ Mass Transit Bailout swept nearly $500 million from Downstate road funds, resulting in an 85/15 Chicago/Downstate split. These funds come directly from the revenue generated by the state sales tax on gasoline.
“Thanks to JB Pritzker and the Democrat majority, the revenue from the state sales tax on gas no longer goes to funding Downstate road projects,” Davidsmeyer said. “So, to me, it’s a no-brainer to suspend this tax when gas prices are at historic highs. Illinois families cannot afford to pay this tax-on-a-tax when gas prices are so high. With the summer driving season about to get underway, I’m urging my colleagues to support HB 5738 to provide our drivers with much-needed tax relief at the gas pumps.”
