Housing (Property Development)

Creates the Senior Home Preservation Program Act. Provides that subject to appropriations, the Department of Human Services shall establish a 3-year pilot program known as the Senior Home Preservation Program (Program) to provide grants to delegate agencies to provide rehabilitation services to legacy resident low-income senior homeowners to preserve the habitability and safety of their homes. Provides that grants under the Program may be used for housing owned by a legacy resident senior to remove or correct health or safety hazards, to comply with applicable housing standards or codes, or to make needed repairs to improve the general living conditions of the legacy resident senior, including improved accessibility for seniors with disabilities. Provides that the Program shall initially be implemented in predetermined geographies with the expectation that the Program may grow to encompass all eligible populations in the State. Contains provisions concerning home repair project types and application process and operational requirements. Creates a Workforce Development Home Repair Program (Workforce Development Program) to promote the State's interest in enabling low-income senior households to age in place safely and securely. Provides that, through grants to delegate agencies, the Workforce Development Program shall aim to increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in census tracts with high rates of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty and to ensure that residents of those communities are able to access the work as a local employment engine. Provides that delegate agencies implementing Workforce Development Program sites shall connect trainees to jobs through committed employer partnerships related to improving the habitability and performance of homes; and shall use grant funding to cover cash stipends for trainees and costs related to the design and implementation of pre-apprenticeship and other job training programs. Requires the Department to submit annual reports. Creates the Senior Home Preservation Program Fund to cover the operational and administrative costs and program grants under the Senior Home Preservation Program. Amends the State Finance Act by adding the Senior Home Preservation Program Fund to the list of special funds.

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that any applicant for a permit for an entrance or exit to a subdivision for affordable housing developments may request in writing from the Department of Transportation an expedited review of the application for a permit. Provides that an applicant requesting expedited review shall pay to the Department an expedited permit fee of $10,000, which shall be deposited into the Road Fund. Provides that if the Department fails to complete an expedited review within the period of time agreed upon by the Department and the applicant, the applicant shall be entitled to a refund of the expedited permit fee on a prorated basis. Provides that the provisions do not apply to applications related to emergency events necessitating immediate action by the Department on permit applications. Allows the Department to adopt rules to implement the provisions.

Creates the Transit-Oriented Overlay and Opportunity Retail Integration Zoning Act. Provides that the area located within a one-mile radius of a transit-oriented development is an ORI zone. Provides that the ORI zone is created automatically by operation of law. Provides that, if a conflict exists between the provisions of the ORI zone and a county or municipality, then the provisions of the ORI zone shall control. Provides that, within the ORI zone, the following uses shall be permitted by right: (1) retail, restaurant, and personal service establishments; (2) office, professional, medical, and administrative uses; (3) residential uses of all types, including single-family, multifamily, and mixed-use residential; (4) light manufacturing, research and development, storage warehousing, maker spaces, and innovation or technology-oriented industrial uses that do not involve heavy industrial processes; (5) institutional, educational, cultural, and governmental uses; (6) lodging and hospitality uses; (7) structured and accessory parking facilities; and (8) any other substantially similar use. Provides that a county or a municipality may enforce objective development standards applicable within the ORI zone. Provides that, if a county or municipality does not approve a proposal for a development in an ORI zone for a use that is permitted within an ORI zone within 90 days after receiving the application for the project, then the development proposal is deemed approved. Limits home rule powers. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Comprehensive Housing Planning Act. Requires the State to prepare and be guided by a 3-year Comprehensive Housing Plan, that is consistent with the affirmative fair housing provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act and specifically addresses specified underserved populations including low-income households, individuals, and older adults with a population-specific need; survivors of gender-based violence; unnecessarily institutionalized persons; veterans; and youth, including those aging out of the foster care system; and any other high need population, as determined by the State Housing Task Force, to be defined in the Comprehensive Housing Plan, and revisited each planning cycle, as needed. Requires the Comprehensive Housing Plan to reflect the State's commitment to an affordable housing approach for priority populations that promotes access to opportunity and resources for low-income households through certain priority initiatives. Expands the membership on the State Housing Task Force to include the Directors or Secretaries of several State departments and agencies. Requires the State Housing Task Force to, in addition to other activities: (i) adopt a mission statement no later than June 30, 2027 that may be updated during each Comprehensive Housing Plan 3-year cycle, as needed; (ii) oversee the implementation of the Comprehensive Housing Plan; and (iii) vote on research questions and affordable housing topics, which will serve as a framework for meetings and activities, and on definitions to ensure they are aligned with State initiatives. Prohibits the Illinois Housing Development Authority from directly or indirectly having a financial interest in an Authority contract. Repeals a provision concerning the Interagency Committee and removes all references to the Interagency Committee.

Creates the Home for Good Act. Provides that the Home for Good Program is created as a statewide coordinated program designed to provide housing and services to persons with arrest and conviction records and persons who are currently or formerly incarcerated (targeted population). Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) shall be responsible for providing appropriate resources to potential applicants to acquire, develop, and rehabilitate permanent affordable housing units and transitional housing units that are designated exclusively for the targeted population. Provides that the granting and application process shall follow the existing program model of the Housing for Justice Involved Individuals Program. Requires IHDA to be responsible for providing site-based rental housing subsidies to community organizations who work with the targeted population which may be used to enter into lease agreements and master lease agreements for the purpose of providing housing for program participants, and tenant-based rental subsidies. Requires the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to provide appropriate resources to community organizations who work with the targeted population. Provides that such resources shall be used to provide case management and reentry navigation services to Program participants; and to make supportive services available to Program participants, which may include housing and related services, physical and behavioral health, education, family reunification and relationship building, transportation, job training, acquiring vital documents, and meeting basic needs. Contains provisions concerning a requirement that a housing needs assessment tool be administered to all individuals exiting the Illinois Department of Corrections; a requirement that the Executive Director of IHDA create a Home for Good Institute to provide training and technical assistance to community organizations who intend to acquire, develop, rehabilitate, or operate permanent and transitional housing units for the targeted population; the establishment of the Home for Good Oversight Board; and rulemaking authority to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the corporate authorities of a municipality shall not require more than 0.5 automobile parking spaces per multifamily dwelling unit or more than one automobile parking space per single-family home. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the corporate authorities of a municipality shall not establish minimum automobile parking requirements for (A) residential dwellings of less than 1,500 square feet; (B) affordable housing projects under the Illinois Affordable Housing Act; (C) assisted living establishments; (D) ground level nonresidential spaces in mixed-use buildings; or (E) buildings undergoing a change of use from nonresidential to residential. Provides that requirements for automobile parking spaces permanently marked for the exclusive use of individuals with disabilities are not subject to the provisions. Provides that, if the provisions conflict with a developer's contractual agreement or approved site plan with the corporate authorities of a municipality that was executed or approved on or before the effective date of the amendatory Act, then the contractual agreement or approved site plan is not subject to the provisions. Provides that nothing in the provisions prevents a municipality from enacting or enforcing an ordinance or resolution that establishes a maximum automobile parking requirement that is more stringent than or equal to the automobile parking requirements of the provisions. Provides that nothing in the provisions prohibits a developer from constructing additional automobile parking that is not available to the public. Limits home rule powers.

Creates the Faith-Based Housing and Mixed-Use By-Right Act. Provides that a unit of local government shall permit multifamily developments and mixed-use developments as allowable by-right uses on faith-based land. Provides that a unit of local government may not require a proposed multifamily or mixed-use development on faith-based land to obtain any discretionary approval in order to permit the proposed use and development or allow for the minimum development standards and limitations established by the Act. Provides that the by-right entitlement under the Act applies whether or not the faith-based organization continues to operate an existing religious, educational, or community facility on the same parcel or adjacent parcel, and regardless of whether the housing is owned, leased, operated, or developed by the faith-based organization or by a partner acting under agreement with the faith-based organization. Provides that nothing in the Act affects the authority of a unit of local government to apply to a development authorized by this Act requirements that are (1) generally applicable to comparable developments within the jurisdiction; (2) objective and ascertainable on the face of the ordinance or code provision; and (3) related to public health and safety. Provides that a unit of local government shall approve an application for a multifamily or mixed-use development on faith-based land if the development satisfies the unit of local government's generally applicable, objective land development and building regulations as limited by the Act. Limits the concurrent use of home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that termination of water utility service to a residential user, including a tenant of a mastermetered apartment building, for nonpayment of bills is prohibited: (1) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 6 days covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below; (2) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 6 days covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above; or (3) when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat watch, excessive heat warning, or heat advisory covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located. In provisions concerning procedures for a large public utility to acquire a water or sewer utility, provides that if the water or sewer utility being acquired is owned by the State or a political subdivision of the State, a referendum will be required to approve the acquisition of the water or sewer utility by the large public utility (rather than only requiring a public meeting and publication of the terms of acquisition in a newspaper of general circulation in the area that the water or sewer utility operates). Effective immediately.

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 Illinois Housing Development Act. Provides that the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall make grants to nonprofit corporations for housing counseling services, subject to appropriation for that purpose and in accordance with rules adopted by the Authority.