Housing

This bill nominates Destini Lednicky to serve as a member of the Illinois Affordable Housing Advisory Commission. The appointment directly affects the commission's composition by adding a new representative to its membership. Once confirmed, Lednicky will participate in the commission's advisory role on affordable housing matters within the state. The bill follows standard appointment procedures by being received by the Senate and assigned to the Executive Appointments committee for processing.

Creates the Restock the Block Act. Imposes on a "covered entity" an annual fee of 10% of the property value of each residential property owned by the covered entity in excess of 10 single family homes or 8 multi-family homes. Provides that this fee is to be deposited into the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund with the purpose of funding public housing projects and developments and providing rental and mortgage assistance. Provides that a "covered entity" is an institutional real estate investor or an entity that receives funding from an institutional real estate investor for the purchase of a residential property. Makes exceptions. Provides that an "Institutional real estate investor" is an entity or combined group that, directly or indirectly (1) owns 10 or more single-family homes or 8 or more multi-family homes; (2) manages or receives funds pooled from investors and acts as a fiduciary one or more investors; and (3) has $30,000,000 or more in net value or assets under management on any day during the taxable year. Provides that it is unlawful for a covered entity to purchase, acquire, or offer to purchase or acquire any interest in residential property unless the residential property has been listed for sale to the general public for at least 90 days. Provides that a covered entity that violates these provisions may be subject to civil damages and penalties in an amount not to exceed $250,000. Requires that the covered entity is required to submit to the seller or anyone acting as an agent for the seller a form stating that the purchaser is a covered entity and file that form within 3 days with the Department of Human Services. Makes conforming changes to the Illinois Affordable Housing Act.

Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Requires landlords to disclose all non-optional fees in a clear and conspicuous manner in the listing and on the first page of the lease. Requires landlords to disclose if any utility bills are non-optional fees in the listing and the first page of the lease. Provides that if a landlord failed to comply with this disclosure, the landlord may not collect the non-optional fee. Prohibits a landlord from charging a bundled services fee that combines optional and non-optional fees. Prohibits a landlord from charging a tenant with a fee or fine that includes, but is not limited to, an application fee that includes a background check of more than $50, an after-hours request for maintenance service, or pest abatement or removal in which the tenant has not contributed to the infestation. Prohibits a landlord from charging a tenant more than one of the following: (i) a security deposit, (ii) a move-in fee, or (iii) a move-out fee. Exempts leases in owner-occupied buildings containing 6 or fewer units and to nonresidential tenancies. Defines terms. Creates a civil cause of action for violation of the Act by a landlord. Makes other changes. Limits home rule.

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services for the Housing is Recovery Program to support rental assistance for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges who are experiencing homelessness. Effective July 1, 2026.

Specifies that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Affordability Crisis in Housing Act. Amends the Financial Institutions Act. Requires that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation establish, maintain, and publish on its website a registry of nominees of mortgagees. Amends the Counties Code. Requires each county board to adopt revisions to its predictable fee schedule to include an additional $150 fee for a nominee of a mortgagee to record a mortgage, including an assignment, extension, amendment, or subordination, beginning no later than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Creates an exception for the recording of a release of mortgage by the nominee of the mortgagee. Provides that of the additional $150, $120 is to be collected by the county as an additional Rental Housing Support Program State surcharge and deposited into the Rental Housing Support Program Fund, and $30 is to be collected by the county as a county fee with $25 to be used by the county for development and maintenance of its affordable housing capacity and $5 to be deposited into the recorder's special funds created to defray the cost of providing electronic or automated access to the county's property records. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that a lien is not created if a nominee of a mortgagee fails to provide the recorder with the cover sheet required to accompany a mortgage under the Conveyances Act. Amends the Conveyances Act. Requires that all mortgages or assignments of mortgage recorded by or for a nominee must be recorded with a cover sheet explaining any fees that are charged, the identity of the nominee of the mortgagee, and the process that may be used by the mortgagor to track the mortgage.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, no building code adopted by a county or municipality may prohibit residential buildings from having a single stairway serving as an exit for all units if the building: (1) has not more than 6 stories above grade plane; (2) is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in the interior exit stairway; (3) has all dwelling unit doors serving as an exit equipped with self-closing devices; (4) is equipped with smoke detection throughout all common areas and individual dwelling units; (5) has at least one emergency escape and rescue opening for each individual dwelling unit; and (6) has not more than 4 individual dwelling units on a floor. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality shall complete its initial plan review within (1) 15 business days after receipt of a complete application for a one-family residential project or 2-family residential project or (2) 30 business days after receipt of a complete application for any multifamily, mixed-use, or commercial project. Provides that, if a municipality fails to complete its plan review within the deadlines established under the provisions, then the applicant may retain a qualified third-party plan reviewer. Provides that a municipality shall accept any plan review submitted by a qualified third-party plan reviewer as meeting the municipality's requirements if the review demonstrates compliance with the applicable building codes. Provides that, if a municipality fails to conduct a required inspection within 2 business days, then the applicant may retain a qualified third-party inspector. Provides that a municipality may require reasonable documentation demonstrating that a qualified third-party plan reviewer or qualified third-party inspector meets the qualification requirements, including proof that the qualified third-party plan reviewer's or qualified third-party inspector's licensure or certification is current and active. Provides that a municipality may not charge plan review or inspection fees for any portion of the review process or inspection process performed by a qualified third-party plan reviewer or qualified third-party inspector. Provides that a qualified third-party plan reviewer or qualified third-party inspector shall disclose any potential conflict of interest to the applicant and the municipality before accepting an engagement. Limits home rule powers.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Authorizes Chief County Assessment Officers in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants to renew an individual's low-income senior citizen exemption under the Code without an annual application if the applicant has previously provided the full social security number or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all members of the applicant's household. Provides that, if a Chief County Assessment Officer is unable to verify that an applicant remains eligible for the low-income senior citizen exemption, then the Chief County Assessment Officer shall notify the applicant and provide the applicant with an opportunity to demonstrate the applicant's eligibility for the exemption. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts from disclosure under the Act information submitted to a Chief County Assessment Officer in applications for the low-income senior citizen exemption under the Property Tax Code.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, if a municipality adopts zoning regulations, then the zoning regulations adopted by the municipality must include a minimum of 5 of 14 specified housing strategies, applicable to the majority of the area where residential development is permitted in the municipality. Provides that, if a municipality has adopted one of the specified housing strategies before the effective date of the amendatory Act, then the housing strategy is considered adopted. Provides that, if a municipality adopts a housing strategy that satisfies 2 or more of the specified housing strategies, then only one strategy may be considered to have been adopted for purposes of compliance with the requirements added by the Amendatory Act.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Voids any provision in an oral agreement or written instrument relating to real property suited for medical procedures that purports to forbid or restrict the conveyance, encumbrance, occupancy, or lease on the basis of providing reproductive health care so long as voiding the provision would not place the instrument or agreement in conflict with another law. Voids any condition, restriction or prohibition, including a right of entry or possibility of reverter, which directly or indirectly limits the use or occupancy of real property suited for medical procedures on the basis of providing reproductive health care so long as voiding the provision would not place the instrument or agreement in conflict with another law. Makes it a civil rights violation to insert in a written instrument a provision that is void under the Act.