‘Put politics aside’ to support no tax on tips, Illinois Democrat says

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A Democratic state legislator is looking to bring the federal no tax on tips policy to the Land of Lincoln.

Illinois decoupled from various provisions of federal tax policy last fall, impacting things like loss deductions and other corporate taxes. Legislators did not change the state’s tax policy to reflect President Donald Trump’s campaign promise of no tax on tips.

With that policy now federal law, Illinois state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, said the state should act.

“This is another one of those issues. This keeps more money in people’s pockets and helps them deal with the affordability issues that are out there,” DeLuca told TCS. “So I believe if there’s enough support to approach it from that standpoint, if we can somehow manage to put the politics of the issue aside, this is good policy.”

DeLuca filed House Bill 4329 last week.

State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, filed similar legislation with House Bill 1383 in March 2025, which has other Republican legislators as sponsors. Spain’s measure remains in the Rules Committee, where it’s been since April.

Last week, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, said he’s looking for unity in the Democratic party when it comes to legislation.

“If you can get to 60 Democrats in this caucus, that bill is going to go on the board,” Welch said in general about legislation. “And it might slow things down a little bit, but I think that just makes things better.”

DeLuca knows the idea of no tax on tips is connected to President Donald Trump’s campaign promise, but he’s encouraging his caucus to put their partisan disdain aside.

“For Democrats who would never consider supporting this, because this was a President Trump supported initiative, I would just say that former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned on it and supported it as well,” DeLuca said.

The Illinois Senate is in this week. The House returns for three days next week. Spring session ends May 31.

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