The 25th District Senator has introduced Senate Bill 1780 to repeal the 32-year prohibition that has prevented Illinois consumers from being able to buy cars on Sundays.  He filed similar legislation in December 2013, which was allowed a “subject-matter-only” committee hearing in the Senate. In March 2014, a Federal Trade Commission analysis determined that such legislation would “provide significant benefits for Illinois consumers.”

The Federal Trade Commission’s Office of Policy Planning Bureau of Competition/Bureau of Economics analyzed Senator Oberweis’ proposal and sent its findings in a letter dated March 26, 2104. The letter’s conclusion states, in part,

“Repealing the Sunday sales ban would ensure that the competitive process, not legislative directive, determines auto dealers’ hours of operation and the availability of other related services. The current law makes it more difficult for Illinois consumers to comparison shop and raises their search costs, which may lead to higher prices, less favorable terms of sale and lease, reduced output of sales and service, and a market that is unresponsive to consumer preferences.”

Senator Oberweis has also introduced legislation this spring that would allow religious choice in business decisions.

Senate Bill 1706 would allow auto dealers to sell cars on Sundays if the dealer is a person who observes a religious day of worship other than Sunday. Those dealers would then be closed on their day of worship, so they would still be open only six days per week. This is similar to legislation that passed in Wisconsin.

Both Senate Bill 1780 and Senate Bill 1706 have been assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee, awaiting a public hearing on the issue. Senator Oberweis is encouraging consumers to contact their state legislators and voice their support for the legislation.

According to a poll March 9 by the company We Ask America, Illinois consumers believe that they should be able to buy a car on Sunday by a margin of almost two to one.