IL HR0030

Expresses opposition to proposed state or local taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages as a budget measure, citing increased grocery costs for Illinois families and job losses in the beverage industry.

Claims studies show negligible obesity benefits from beverage taxes, citing examples of West Virginia (obesity rate 35.6% despite tax since 1951) and Arkansas (obesity doubled to 34.5% despite tax since 1992).

Notes beverage industry employs over 100,000 Illinois residents directly and indirectly, generating $654 million in beverage-related wages and $702 million in wages for beverage-dependent occupations.

Warns that a penny-per-ounce tax would add 68 cents to a typical two-liter bottle of soda and would incentivize cross-border shopping, particularly for the two-thirds of Illinois residents living within 40 minutes of neighboring states.

Resolves that the House of Representatives opposes all state and local efforts to impose new taxes on beverages and food.