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.
Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Veterans Housing Protection Act. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation to refuse to sell or rent or to otherwise make unavailable or deny a dwelling to any buyer or renter who is a veteran because of the results of a criminal, credit, or eviction history records check. Provides that the prohibition against the use of the results of a veteran's criminal history records check shall not preclude an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or a real estate broker or salesman, from prohibiting the veteran, a member of the veteran's household, or a guest of the veteran from engaging in unlawful activity on the premises. Expands the Act's definition of "source of income" to include any federal, State, or local public assistance, and federal, State, or local housing subsidies, such as federal Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, rental assistance under the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program, and veterans' benefits. Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to administer a statewide Landlord Rental Guarantee Program which reimburses landlords up to $3,500 for damages or unpaid rent associated with veteran tenants using any federal, State, or local housing assistance or veterans' benefits to pay all or a portion of the rent. Provides that reimbursement payments shall be paid out of the Veterans Rental Guarantee Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury. Requires the Department to also establish and administer a pilot program to increase affordable homeownership opportunities among the veteran population. Provides that under the pilot program veterans shall be able to use federal or State housing vouchers to partially subsidize homeownership expenses for up to 10 or 15 years depending on the mortgage term.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that all moneys payable from funds appropriated to the Department of Human Services in State Fiscal Year 2027 for grants to counties with court-based eviction early resolution programs and associated legal assistance, mediation, and other services shall be distributed by the Department in proportion to the volume of eviction filings by judicial circuit and prioritizing support for counties that are providing at least 50% in matching funds. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that all housing assistance payments payable from funds appropriated to the Department of Human Services in State Fiscal Year 2027 for the purpose of providing ongoing housing assistance to long-term care residents seeking to transition to less restrictive community housing shall be structured to ensure that housing assistance recipients pay no more than 30% of their income as housing costs and may relocate to a different residence that meets applicable Department rules without losing eligibility for such housing assistance payments. Effective July 1, 2026.
Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation under the Act to refuse to lease or rent real property or otherwise discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of a real estate transaction by using an applicant's credit score or credit history as a disqualifying factor if that applicant's source of income includes a local, State, or federal housing subsidy. "Housing subsidy" includes, but is not limited to, housing choice vouchers, permanent supportive housing program placements, or rapid rehousing subsidies. Provides that use of credit scores or history to deny a rental application to a person with a housing subsidy is a violation of the Act as it constitutes a practice that subjects individuals to discrimination based on source of income without a legitimate, nondiscriminatory necessity.
Amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Requires non-exempt local governments to provide residents with notice and the opportunity for comment at a public hearing prior to adopting an affordable housing plan. Requires a non-exempt local government to provide proof of its compliance with the notice and public hearing requirements when it submits a copy of its affordable housing plan to the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Expands the list of information that must be provided in the affordable housing plan to include, (i) an identification of "specific lands" (rather than "lands") within the jurisdiction that are most appropriate for the construction of affordable housing, (ii) proposed timelines to commence "specific actions and deadlines" (rather than "actions") to implement the components of the affordable housing plan, and (iii) incentives, including certain measures to address the need for affordable housing, that the local government may provide for the purpose of attracting affordable housing. In a provision permitting certain persons to appeal a local government's denial of a proposed affordable housing plan, expands the list to include a service provider that is under contract to provide services for potential residents of a proposed supportive housing project or community-integrated living arrangement that is included in the proposed affordable housing plan. Contains provisions concerning final actions or decisions by the governing body of the local government on the proposed affordable housing plans; appeal procedures and timelines; and other matters. Expands the Illinois Housing Development Authority's rulemaking authority to include the adoption of rules and regulations concerning the substance of affordable housing plans consistent with the changes made in the amendatory Act.
Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department shall establish and implement a Veterans' Economic Center pilot program for the purposes of assisting veterans in finding employment and addressing the problem of veteran homelessness. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act and the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit Act. Provides that a taxpayer who receives a credit under the Act for a taxable year ending on or before December 31, 2027 pursuant an Agreement entered into on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act may apply only 98% of that credit amount against his or her State income tax liability in any taxable year. Provides that the remaining 2% of the total credit amount awarded shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund into the Veterans' Economic Center Fund. Provides that moneys in the Veterans' Economic Center Fund shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to administer the Veterans' Economic Center pilot program. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Veterans' Economic Center Fund. Effective immediately.
Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Creates the Illinois Guaranteed Income Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall administer the Fund and provide grants to eligible entities for the purpose of operating pilot programs and programs, or "projects", that provide a guaranteed income to participants. Requires the Department to prioritize funding for projects that serve Illinois residents who: (1) are pregnant individuals or have become new parents in the last 3 years; (2) are facing homelessness or seeking shelter or transitioning to housing after a period of homelessness; (3) are formerly incarcerated and returning to the community, or supporting a formerly incarcerated family member who was released within a year of application; or (4) are enrolled in educational or vocational programs. Contains provisions on the methodology and manner of distributing grants; benefits counseling for individuals who receive guaranteed income payments; Department reviews and evaluations on the economic impact of the guaranteed income programs and projects; reporting requirements and the public posting of such reports; and other matters. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Identification Card Act. Removes a provision that requires the application of a homeless individual for an Illinois Identification Card to be accompanied by an affirmation by a qualified person, on a form provided by the Secretary of State, that the applicant is currently homeless.
Creates the Veterans Bill of Rights Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to make specified efforts to: (1) increase loans to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans; (2) increase veterans' access to health care coverage and services; (3) take specified steps toward preventing veteran suicide; and (4) develop and implement a strategy to end veteran homelessness within 3 years. Directs the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to review all State licenses for which military service members may have relevant training or experience, produce a report recommending steps that can be taken to increase recognition of military training and experience toward licensing, and take those steps within one year of issuing the report. Contains provisions regarding veterans at public institutions of higher education receiving college credit, registering for courses, and being called to active duty. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to annually review apprentice, training, and other vocational programs focused on providing job training and placement to returning military service members and veterans. Contains other provisions.
