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It’s almost a law (in January) (Updated)
Monday, Jul 21, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * First, some background from a WGN article published in May…
* ABC Chicago last week…
* CBS Chicago…
[From Rich: All that hooplah and the bill doesn’t even take effect until January? Maybe they could just pass one with an immediate effective date during veto session?] …Adding… A Pritzker spokesperson said when asked that, despite what they told news media outlets, neither Reps. Evans nor Ford followed through and contacted the governor and/or his staff to ask that he sign the bill immediately. * More… * WCIA | No more loopholes for squatters: Bill allowing police to treat them as trespassers heads to governor’s desk: The House passed the criminal eviction bill Wednesday with bipartisan support. This is an update to the current eviction rules. If signed into law, anyone living in a house, apartment, or on land without permission from the owner will be treated as a trespasser. This would give police the right to forcefully remove them from the property without a drawn-out court process. * ABC Chicago | ‘Squatter Bill’ passes in Illinois House, heads to Governor Pritzker’s desk: “We’ve heard of instances of people providing false documents and fake rental agreements in order to remain on the property,” 10th District State Representative Jawaharial Williams. “Will this bill address that situation? Yes. It will also make it an offense when people present false documentation or fake their identity to the police officers or the owners of the property.”
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- Downstate - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 8:55 am:
Last year I was hearing concerns over squatters rights, particularly from snow birds who live in Illinois less than 6 months per year.
Maybe we should apply the law to those homes of Illinois “residents” (those paying IL income taxes), to encourage them from transferring their residency. /s/
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 9:27 am:
During the pandemic and the eviction moratorium tenants rights groups started to openly encourage tenants to utilize the loopholes and cracks in the housing system as part of a larger “social justice” movement out of a belief property ownership is inherently evil. Glad to finally see some common sense by politicians.
There needs to be a follow up law that allows the property owner to get their unpaid rent back without spending years in court, as well as for damages to the unit which is quite common as tenants destroy the place on purpose on their way out.
- Bellville Bruce - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 9:47 am:
Good to know that Senator Chesney supports squatters and their right to steal your property
- Blue Dog - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 9:53 am:
What kind of legal system even allowed us to get to this point.
- Perrid - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 10:28 am:
As long as it only affects actual squatters and not tenants who are beefing with their landlord, I don’t have an issue with it. So as long as the cops actually take the time to get the person living there’s side of the story, gives them a chance to say they’re a tenant and the landlord is lying or whatever, it seems like a good change.
- Ron - In Texas - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 11:36 am:
“What kind of legal system even allowed us to get to this point.”
The kind that got us laws that get written assuming landlords are big evil people (because they own something and charge rent) and the “squatters” are tenants that are under privileged and being abused by landlords. It takes in your face out of control squatting next to a state rep to get anything done.
Trying to give tenants rights, went too far. and a slow court system made it worse.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jul 21, 25 @ 12:13 pm:
===It takes in your face out of control squatting next to a state rep to get anything done.===
Um, no. Reading comprehension is apparently not your bit.