Thanks to strong REALTOR® advocacy, multiple proposals that would have increased costs, restricted property rights, and disrupted housing access for buyers, sellers, and renters were defeated during this Spring General Assembly session, while the important topic of Illinois’ housing inventory shortage was finally seriously discussed by the Governor and legislators.

Some of the bad legislation included:

SB 343 (Guzman) (D-Chicago): Targeting housing providers using software with embedded A.I.

SB 3530 (Johnson) (D-Waukegan): Instituting rent control statewide

HB 3687 (Jimenez) (D-Chicago): Repealing ban on rent control

SB 4200 (DeWitte) (R-West Dundee): Price fixing real estate commissions and instituting rent control

SB 331 (Ventura) (D-Joliet): Impose new property taxes on real estate investors

SB 332 (Simmons) (D-Chicago): Cap real estate sale prices, impose statewide tenant right of first refusal

HB 3596 (Moeller) (D-Elgin): Classifies every body of water on private property a regulated wetland

On the positive side, REALTORS® finally forced legislators and the Governor to discuss practical, forward-thinking solutions to address the state’s housing inventory challenges. As part of our efforts to help first-time homebuyers and those needing missing middle housing, REALTORS® supported the Governor’s BUILD Plan and the legislature approved $250 million for new missing middle and affordable housing programs at IHDA and DCEO.

Unfortunately, fearmongering and last-minute tricks stalled discussions of other measures aimed at helping the state’s real estate industry and consumers. REALTORS® will continue advocating for buyers, tenants, sellers and housing providers statewide when the General Assembly returns for its scheduled Fall Veto Session from Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.