Quincy Reporter

Illinois is now the state with the highest tax burden in the United States, as reported by WalletHub's recent study on state tax rates. The study assessed 50 states and the District of Columbia across four main tax categories: real estate, vehicle property, income, and sales excise taxes. Illinois ranked 51st overall, taking the 50th spot for real estate taxes and 47th for income taxes.

The state's real estate tax rate approaches 8%, second only to New Jersey, which is significantly above the national average. WalletHub found that Illinois' taxes are 51.8% higher than the U.S. average, with New York following at 34.9%. Conversely, states like Alaska, Delaware, and Wyoming offer more favorable tax conditions.

A national survey by WalletHub also highlighted that 70% of Americans are more worried about inflation than taxes; nearly one-third prefer jury duty over filing their taxes. These high tax rates add to Illinois' economic challenges.

In legislative news, Senate Republicans have expressed concerns over House Bill 3458. This proposal could allow mental health crises as a defense for assaulting police officers. Critics argue this might encourage attacks on officers by reducing accountability while proponents believe it protects those in distress.

House Bill 2827, known as the Homeschool Act, aims to increase oversight of homeschooling families but has sparked controversy among lawmakers and citizens alike. The bill requires parents to meet educational qualifications and notify school districts when homeschooling begins.

State Senator Erica Harriss introduced Senate Bill 2091 following a tragic incident involving a K9 from Alton Police Department named Odin who was killed in duty last August. This legislation seeks harsher penalties for those harming working K9 animals by upgrading offenses related to these acts from Class 4 felonies to Class 3 or Class 2 felonies depending on severity.