SPRINGFIELD – A legislative measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman that allows Rockford to raise license fees on video gaming machines passed a key hurdle yesterday.

“These video gaming machines rake in thousands of dollars a month,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “I think it is only right that Rockford be allowed to raise the license fees in order to balance their budget without raising property taxes.”

Senate Bill 1558 was brought to Stadelman by Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara due to Rockford’s status as a non-home rule municipality, meaning the city needs state approval to raise the fees unlike other downstate cities like Peoria or Springfield.

“I am incredibly thankful to our local ILBA Rockford Chapter for working with the City to institute what is a higher fee per machine, that without home rule we are unable to institute ourselves,” McNamara said. “This development would not be where it is today without the leadership of Senator Stadelman in Springfield.”

Currently, non-home rule cities cannot charge more than $25 annually for a video gaming machine license. SB 1558 would raise that limit to $250 for Rockford. In Peoria and Springfield, the license fee is $500 per year.

Having passed the Senate Executive Committee, the bill now goes before the whole Senate for a vote.