Housing

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.

Creates the Community Revitalization Zone Act. Provides that a county or municipality may designate an area within its jurisdiction as a community redevelopment zone, subject to the certification of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Sets forth the criteria for designation as a community redevelopment zone. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that, with respect to tangible personal property that is purchased from a retailer located in a community revitalization zone, the taxes under those Acts are imposed at the rate of 3.25%. Effective immediately.

Creates the Local Government Building Permit Act. Provides that the Act only applies to units of local government that require a person to obtain a permit from the unit of local government before the person may construct a building within the unit of local government. Requires a unit of local government to comply with specified timelines for issuing building permits. Provides that, if a unit of local government fails to comply with the timelines, then the building permit is automatically approved by operation of law, unless the proposed building project violates published building or zoning codes. Requires a unit of local government to publish the specified information concerning building permits on its public-facing website. Provides that the fees that a unit of local government imposes to approve a building permit application may not exceed the actual cost the unit of local government incurs to review a building permit application. Provides that, if a unit of local government denies a person's building permit application, then the person may appeal the decision to the Building Permit Ombudsman. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law. Creates the position of Building Permit Ombudsman within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that the Building Permit Ombudsman shall receive, review, and resolve appeals brought under the Local Government Building Permit Act. Requires the Building Permit Ombudsman to (i) examine the issues and the information provided by both parties; (ii) make findings of fact and conclusions of law; and (iii) issue a decision to the developer and the unit of local government in response to the appeal.

Amends the Counties Code, the Township Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county, township, or municipality shall not enact or enforce an anti-growth law affecting property unless the anti-growth law is enacted or enforced (1) following a disaster declared by the Governor that occurred within the jurisdiction of the county, township, or municipality; or (2) to provide for the extension or acquisition of public infrastructure, public services, or water resources. Limits home rule powers. Effective immediately.

Creates the Multi-Unit Residential Rental Property Right of First Refusal Act. Requires the owner of a multi-unit residential rental property that offers the property for sale to provide written notice to each tenant and the tenants' association offering the tenants' association an opportunity to purchase the property at a price and terms that represent a bona fide offer of sale. Exempts property governed by the Condominium Property Act. Provides that the tenants, by and through the tenants' association, have the right to purchase the residential rental property if the tenants meet the price, terms, and conditions of the property owner by executing a contract with the property owner within 60 days, unless agreed to otherwise, from the date of mailing of the notice. Provides that, if a contract between the owner and the association is not executed within the 60-day period, the property owner has no further obligation under the Act unless the owner thereafter elects to offer the property at a price materially lower than the price specified in the notice provided to the association. Defines a materially lower price as a price that is at least 20% lower than the price specified in the notice to the officers of the tenants' association. Provides that if the property owner thereafter elects to offer the property at a price materially lower than the price specified in the notice, the tenants, by and through the tenants' association, have an additional 10 days to meet the new price, terms, and conditions by executing a contract. Provides this right to purchase the property is void if no contract for sale by the tenants' association and the property owner has been reached within the 60-day period or any additional 10-day period. Authorizes the property owner to record in the county in which the property is located an affidavit that the owner has complied with the Act's requirements. Specifies that if the tenants wish to exercise the rights under the Act, they must form an association that must be a corporation or a not-for-profit corporation with the written consent of two-thirds of all of the tenants. Sets out requirements for matters to be included in the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and power and duties of the tenants' association. Allows an aggrieved party to file a civil action for damages. Makes other changes.

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a detention center facility may not be located, constructed, or operated within 1,500 feet of the property boundaries of any school, day care center, day care home, cemetery, public park, forest preserve, public housing, private residence, or place of religious worship, regardless of address. Defines "detention center facility" and "federal immigration authority". Effective immediately.

Appropriates $22,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Development of Human Services for grants to municipalities or counties under the Senior Home Preservation Program. Effective July 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Housing Development Act and the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that the amount of credits awarded under the affordable housing tax donation program is limited to $41,831,227 in State fiscal year 2027 and shall increase by 10% each fiscal year thereafter (currently, $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 increased by 5% each fiscal year thereafter). Provides that the affordable housing donation income tax credit applies through the taxable year ending on December 31, 2036 (currently, December 31, 2026). Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Makes it a civil rights violation under the Act to use artificial intelligence in a real estate transaction without providing notice to the other person engaging in the real estate transaction that the owner, real estate broker or salesman, or agent of one of them is using artificial intelligence to conduct the real estate transaction. Makes it a civil rights violation to fail to inform an applicant for a loan or credit card if the financial institution used artificial intelligence to process the application. Makes it a civil rights violation to fail to inform a person seeking a place of public accommodation that the place of public accommodation uses artificial intelligence to determine whether the person seeking a place of public accommodation is permitted to enjoy the full and equal enjoyment of its facilities, goods, and services. Requires that the Department of Human Rights adopt any rules necessary for the implementation and enforcement of the Act.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, beginning in taxable year 2026, the maximum income limitation for the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption shall be increased each year by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index. Effective immediately.