SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen is supporting a measure to help ensure the City of Zion can continue delivering critical property tax relief to residents while protecting millions of dollars in state funding.

House Bill 598 would make two key updates to the state’s property tax system, including a provision specifically designed to support Zion.

“Families in Zion deserve real, reliable tax relief,” said Edly-Allen (D-Grayslake). “We are protecting both taxpayer fairness and critical funding for our communities.”

The bill would ensure that Zion can receive and use state funding from the Illinois Energy Community Reinvestment Act without lowering its future property tax capacity.

The Illinois Energy Community Reinvestment Act, signed in 2021, supports communities and workers affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. Without this fix, the city could lose access to nearly $20 million in funding meant to reduce the local tax burden.

Zion is uniquely eligible for this funding due to the decommissioning of its nuclear power plant and the continued storage of nuclear waste in the community. State law requires that most of these funds be used directly for property tax relief.

After the plant’s operation from 1973 to 1997, it was decommissioned in 2010, finishing in 2023. The closure caused significant economic hardship, including a 143% rise in property tax rates as the city lost a major taxpayer.

“This is about fairness for Zion,” said Edly-Allen. “Our community has taken on the long-term responsibility of storing nuclear waste, and residents should benefit from the relief these funds are meant to provide, not risk losing them due to technical barriers.”

House Bill 598 passed the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the governor for further consideration.