Illinois Lawmakers Reintroduce Sugary Beverage Tax Bill

Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter and State Rep. Robyn Gabel reintroduced the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Act to the Illinois General Assembly last week. The act would create a 1-cent-per ounce excise tax on distributors of bottles of energy drinks, soda and other sugary beverages. The HEAL act would tax beverages with more than 5 grams of sugar per 12 ounces, including ready-to-drink coffees and teas.

The bill is expected to generate more than $600 million a year for investment in communities across the state through a small tax on sugary drink distributors and is supported by the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity. 

Hunter and Gabel first introduced the bill in February 2014.