Liz Bishop, a Republican candidate for Illinois House District 76, said on April 28 that the proposed temporary suspension of the state’s sales tax on gasoline would lower costs at the pump for drivers handling daily commutes, school runs and errands across the 76th District and beyond.
The proposal comes as lawmakers consider measures to address rising fuel costs in Illinois. Bishop issued her statement in direct response to a legislative proposal introduced by Republican lawmakers to temporarily suspend the sales tax on gasoline for six months. The measure targets the tax applied on top of the existing motor fuel tax and would provide immediate savings for motorists as the spring session in Springfield nears its end. The 76th District includes communities where residents depend heavily on personal vehicles for work and family obligations, according to Starved Rock Media.
“People aren’t driving for fun—they’re driving to work, taking their kids to school, getting groceries, and trying to keep life moving. When gas prices go up, it hits everything. Residents need relief from Springfield’s tax excesses. This is everyday life for people—not some luxury. Every extra dollar spent on gas is a dollar families don’t have for groceries, bills, or saving for the future. Politicians in Springfield might not feel that, but working families here absolutely do,” Bishop said.
Illinois levies both a motor fuel tax and an additional sales tax on gasoline, creating a combined burden that ranks among the highest in the country. The current motor fuel tax rate on gasoline stands at 48.3 cents per gallon through June 30, 2026, with the sales tax component calculated separately based on average fuel prices. This structure adds to overall pump prices paid by drivers throughout the 76th District and other parts of the state, according to information from the Illinois Department of Revenue.
The total state and local tax burden on gasoline in Illinois exceeds the national average and places additional costs on households and businesses that rely on affordable transportation. Automatic annual adjustments to the motor fuel tax have increased the per-gallon rate in recent years. Relief proposals such as a temporary sales tax pause are intended to address these ongoing expenses for families, according to Illinois Policy Institute.
Bishop is a retired bank examiner and longtime local community advocate who has served as precinct committeeman and deputy state central committeewoman for the Illinois Republican Party. She resides in the Peru-La Salle area and is the Republican nominee challenging the incumbent in the 76th District race this November, according to her campaign website.
