The July edition of the Illinois REALTORS® podcast catches up with Jeffrey T. Baker, the association’s newly appointed deputy CEO about his journey into the legal and public policy field.

Baker is in line to become only the fourth CEO in Illinois REALTORS® history. He has a track record of working on policy issues for the association, both as a contractor through a Springfield law firm and more recently as associate general counsel.

And the association’s Chief Legal Counsel Betsy Urbance gives an update on what’s included in a recently passed rewrite of the Real Estate License Act. The changes were passed by overwhelming majorities in the Illinois General Assembly this spring and the act awaits signature by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Urbance explains that although the association anticipates the act will be signed into law, some of the provisions will have to go through a rule-making process that could take many months.

Other provisions, such as lowering the age at which a resident can obtain their real estate license, would go into effect much more quickly, she said.