Illinois quick hits: Education tax benefits available; Giannoulias orders license plate reader to shut off access to CBP

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Education tax benefits available

As students across Illinois return to the classroom, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Revenue are reminding parents and educators to take advantage of tax benefits available on their 2025 state income tax returns.

The Illinois K-12 Education Expense Credit allows parents or legal guardians of full-time students to claim a 25% tax credit on qualified education expenses over $250.

Teachers and other school workers can claim up to $500 in tax credits for out-of-pocket spending on classroom materials.

Giannoulias orders license plate reader to shut off access to CBP

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has ordered a company which operates automated licensed reader systems to shut off U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s access to license plate camera data.

Giannoulias said Flock Safety violated state law by allowing the federal agency to access cameras.

The revelation comes just two months after Giannoulias ordered Flock to block outside law enforcement from seeking Illinois data related to abortion and immigration.

Abortion coverage lawsuit in appeals court

Oral arguments are scheduled to begin Tuesday in a case challenging a state mandate requiring health insurers to include abortion coverage in their plans.

Attorneys from the Thomas More Society filed suit in Illinois Appellate Court on behalf of the Illinois Baptist State Association in 2020.