Dupage Policy Journal

Janet Yang Rohr introduced HB1074 in the Illinois House on Jan. 9, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that it is unlawful for an income tax return preparer or a software company to charge a separate fee for the electronic filing of returns under the Act. Provides that it is unlawful for a software company to offer for sale a version of its tax software that charges a separate fee for the electronic filing of returns under the Act and a version of the same tax software that does not. Sets forth penalties for violations of the provisions of the amendatory Act."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to prohibit income tax return preparers and software companies from charging separate fees for the electronic filing of returns. It also bans software companies from offering multiple versions of tax software with different fee structures for electronic filing. Violations incur a civil penalty of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. Each fee charged in violation after the bill's effective date is considered a separate offense. Penalties are managed as taxes by the Department and subject to judicial review under the Administrative Review Law, with venue requirements based on residency or, for non-residents, in Sangamon or Cook County.

Janet Yang Rohr has proposed another two bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Rohr graduated from Northwestern University in 2002 with a BA and again in 2010 from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Janet Yang Rohr is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 41st House District. He replaced previous state representative Grant Wehrli in 2021.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1074	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that it is unlawful for an income tax return preparer or a software company to charge a separate fee for the electronic filing of returns under the Act. Provides that it is unlawful for a software company to offer for sale a version of its tax software that charges a separate fee for the electronic filing of returns under the Act and a version of the same tax software that does not. Sets forth penalties for violations of the provisions of the amendatory Act.
HB0045	01/09/2025	Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a grocery store that offers a digital coupon to consumers shall make available a corresponding paper coupon of equal value. Provides that the paper coupons shall be easily accessible at the service desk and may also be placed in other locations around the store. Provides that a grocery store that violates the requirement commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.
HB1072	01/09/2025	Creates the Mobile Panic Alert System Act. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Alyssa's Law. Requires, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each public school to implement a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting diverse emergency services technologies to ensure real-time coordination between multiple first responder agencies. Requires, for the 2026 fiscal year, the State Board of Education to issue a competitive solicitation to contract for a mobile panic alert system that may be used by each school district. Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code to make a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2026.