Over the next few months, Illinois REALTORS® will be advocating for the expansion of ADUs, zoning flexibility for ‘missing middle’ housing, and other issues to resolve the state’s housing woes. Those efforts received a major boost this week, when Governor JB Pritzker adopted several of our housing solutions in his BUILD Illinois initiative. It represents the culmination of our relentless advocacy work over the past few years. It is a major victory for your existing and future clients, your communities and your businesses.
The Governor proposing measures that mirror the core pillars of Illinois REALTORS®’ legislative platform took a lot of work since 2020. It included Baker and the governmental affairs team meeting with hundreds of local and state officials to discuss these initiatives. Then, in 2024, Baker served on the Governor’s Ad-Hoc Missing Middle Housing Solutions Advisory Committee.
Following is some of the information Baker provided to the media. The links are included to read the full stories.
Governor’s plan expands density rules statewide, matching policies sought by Illinois Realtors
Gov. JB Pritzker made policies to increase housing supply a key focus of his annual budget address on Wednesday, marking a win for the Illinois Realtors trade association’s years long push for the policies in Springfield.
Illinois REALTORS® CEO Jeff Baker told The Real Deal the governor’s backing is a turning point for the group’s policy efforts.
“This is a major step forward for the real estate industry in Illinois,” Baker said. “… There’s a lot of other issues that can grab attention, and for this one to be on (Pritzker’s) short list … that’s a huge win for the real estate industry.”
Governor JB Pritzker Included Illinois REALTORS(R)’ Long-Standing Housing Priorities in his 2026 State Budget
Illinois REALTORS, the state’s largest real estate trade group, quickly applauded Pritzker’s embrace of “missing middle” housing.
“For the past six years, our members have been the leading voice at the Capitol and in local city and village halls advocating for common-sense solutions to our state’s housing crisis,” Illinois REALTORS(R) CEO Jeff Baker said in a statement.
Pritzker unveils comprehensive plan to boost housing at State of the State
Illinois REALTORS® applauded the proposals, saying they “mirror the core pillars of Illinois REALTORS®’ legislative platform since 2020.”
The association’s CEO, Jeff Baker, served on Pritzker’s 2024 Ad-Hoc Missing Middle Housing Solutions Committee, which sought to develop initiatives to increase these types of residences. These include smaller, multi-unit properties like townhouses, duplexes and cottage courts that fit into existing single-family neighborhoods better than large-scale apartment developments.
“For the past six years, our members have been the leading voice at the Capitol and in local city and village halls advocating for common-sense solutions to our state’s housing crisis,” he said. “We are pleased to see the governor embrace the roadmap we have proposed — specifically the expansion of ADUs and zoning flexibility for ‘missing middle‘ housing.”
Illinois governor calls for legalizing array of housing types across the state
“We are pleased to see the governor embrace the roadmap we have proposed — specifically the expansion of ADUs and zoning flexibility for ‘missing middle’ housing,” Illinois REALTORS® CEO Jeff Baker said in a statement.
Baker’s group supports ending local bans on accessory dwelling units while allowing cities and towns to impose some restrictions to ensure new housing is safe.
Illinois REALTORS® cites two bills on its website that are pending in the General Assembly and appear to support parts of Pritzker’s agenda, including the Missing Middle Housing Act and Local Accessory Dwelling Unit Act. The missing middle housing act, introduced in January 2025, would require cities with 25,000 or more residents to allow multiple housing types on lots of greater than 5,000 square feet.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Pitches Statewide Zoning Reform for More Homebuilding
… The Illinois REALTORS® applauded the move. CEO Jeff Baker said the group has been pushing to expand options for ADUs and “missing middle” housing since 2020. A lot of that came from meeting with local officials, but momentum has been growing since 2024 when Pritzker convened a committee on the issue.
“While we have been proposing these measures for years, having the governor’s support is a significant turning point,” Illinois REALTORS® Board President Jeff Kolbus said.
