Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has announced a proposal to impose a new statewide fee on major social media companies, as part of his State of the State and budget address last week. The plan would require large social media platforms to pay a monthly fee based on the number of users they have in Illinois, with higher fees for companies with more users.
State officials estimate the proposal could generate approximately $200 million per year, with the revenue targeted to support education and other state priorities. “These companies are making massive profits in our state while not paying their fair share toward the costs they create,” Governor Pritzker said in his speech, framing the proposal as a way to ensure tech platforms contribute more to the communities in which they operate.
The fee would apply to major platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and X, and would utilize a tiered structure tied to the number of Illinois users on each service. According to Pritzker’s office, the measure is part of a broader effort to address a projected budget gap and maintain funding for state programs, while limiting increases in other taxes.
The proposal must be approved by the Illinois General Assembly before it can take effect.