Welch, House Democrats Help Working Families Save More than $11 Million with School Supply Affordability Measure

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Working families in Illinois saved more than $11 million on new clothes, shoes, and school supplies thanks to the recent back-to-school sales tax holiday delivered by Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and House Democrats.

“A new school year means new opportunity for our young people, and we can’t let Washington’s affordability crisis deny that opportunity for anyone,” Welch said. “In Illinois, our state budgets put families’ budgets first, and the $11.4 million put back into families’ pockets by the back-to-school sales tax holiday are a great example of that. No state can end misguided tariffs or stop wars overseas, but we can take steps like this to help families make ends meet until we have leaders in Washington who care about working people.”

As Washington’s tariffs and foreign wars drive costs higher and higher for working families, the fiscally and socially responsible state budget passed by Welch and House Democrats puts affordability front and center for Illinois families. A key element of this relief was the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which ran from Aug. 7 to Aug. 16, waiving the state sales tax online and in-store for Illinoisans buying classroom essentials including clothing, gym shoes and school supplies. 2,284 retailers participated. The 10-day tax holiday was initially projected to deliver $10 million in consumer savings—however, new figures from the state’s top financial offices show that Illinoisans ultimately saved $11.4 million.