* Illinois REALTORS…

Illinois REALTORS® announced today five major legislative proposals it is supporting as part of its “Housing Stability & Affordability Initiative.” […]

During this legislative session, Illinois REALTORS® has increased it efforts and introduced its “Housing Stability & Affordability Initiative,” which includes bills it has worked with the Governor’s office and state legislators to develop, all aimed at increasing affordability and housing stability.

Specifically, these measures would increase housing supply, help first-time homebuyers and tackle zoning and local regulations that hinder growth.

“Illinois’ ongoing low housing inventory crisis has driven home prices higher in recent years, making homeownership less attainable to many and causing housing instability,” said Illinois REALTORS® President Tommy Choi.

In 2024, Illinois REALTORS® CEO Jeff Baker served on Gov. JB Pritzker’s Ad-Hoc Missing Middle Housing Solutions Advisory Committee to develop initiatives and policy solutions to bring more missing middle housing to the state.

Now Illinois REALTORS® is ramping up its efforts to work with legislators to advance its package of legislative initiatives to achieve that goal. The Initiative includes:

1. Elimination of zoning bans on accessory dwelling units – House Bill 1709, sponsored by Rep. Kam Buckner and Chief Co-Sponsor, Rep. Bob Rita, would prohibit cities and towns from banning accessory dwelling units (ADUs), a relatively easy option for increasing the state’s available housing supply. Because of their smaller size, ADUs are seen as a quick supply of affordable housing units.

2. Easing density restrictions in local zoning codes to create needed missing middle housing – House Bill 1814, also sponsored by Rep. Rita, would generate more housing supply by requiring municipalities to revise restrictions on large lots previously zoned for single-family homes to accommodate duplexes, townhouses and other missing middle-style homes. This legislation preserves single-family zoning and the detached, single family home typology – recognizing the importance of this class of building in comprehensive city planning. This bill is a commonsense alternative to more exaggerated proposals that try to ban single-family zoning all together.

3. Bring fairness and uniformity to impact fees – Senate Bill 1959, sponsored by Sen. Cristina Castro, would incentivize towns and cities to bring their local impact fees ordinances in compliance with state law. Municipal impact fees add to the cost of home building and are strictly regulated by state statute. Despite this, many municipalities have applied inflated impact fees outside of those parameters. Those affected – property owners, developers and home builders – are left with paying more to comply or walking away from their developments. This bill will bring consistency to the impact fee application process and clear the way for home builders to advance new housing projects.

4. Create a homebuyer savings account program with tax benefits – Senate Bill 148, also sponsored by Sen. Castro, would create the Illinois Homebuyer Savings Account Act, allowing for first-time and second-chance homebuyers to receive a tax deduction for money they save toward a home purchase. Single tax filers could create designated savings accounts and receive up to $5,000 in yearly tax deductions while married couples or joint filers could receive up to $10,000. The bill caps contributions and tax deductions over the lifetime of the account at $25,000 for single filers and $50,000 for joint filers.

5. Prohibit discriminatory crime-free housing ordinances statewide – House Bill 3110, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, would ban crime-free housing ordinances that destabilize housing for vulnerable populations and violate both state and federal fair housing laws. Local crime free housing ordinances reflect the discriminatory practices of the 1950’s and 1960’s. These ordinances are used by municipalities to force housing providers to evict tenants if they or anyone in their household has any contact with law enforcement. Repeated studies have shown these ordinances have a disproportionate impact on underserved groups. While some argue these laws are a tool to decrease crime, there is no evidence to support that.

* Mascots Matter…

Mascots Matter, a national grassroots advocacy campaign dedicated to ending the use of derogatory and discriminatory mascots, team names, and logos, with an emphasis on Dwarfism, is proud to announce its collaboration with Illinois State Representative Maurice West on groundbreaking legislation. The proposed bill seeks to prohibit public educational institutions from using mascots or imagery that perpetuate harmful stereotypes or discriminate against individuals based on disability.

The bill, titled “Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act” (HB3527), aims to ensure that all public educational environments foster respect and inclusivity, aligning with the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Key Provisions of the Proposed Legislation:

• Definition of Discriminatory Mascots: The bill defines a discriminatory disability mascot as “any name, logo, or imagery derogatory or representative of a disability, aligning with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).”

• Interpretation of Public Educational Institutions: Public educational institutions as defined by the bill, includes any kindergarten through grade 12 school, public university, or community college receiving public funding within the State.

• Timeline for Transition: Existing materials may be used until September 1, 2028, if specific requirements are met. For comprehensive details, please review the full bill text.

• Effective Date: The act will take effect on a date to be determined upon its passage. […]

Rachel Wherley, founder of Mascots Matter, pointed to the national scope of the issue: “There are currently five high schools in the U.S. that use ‘Midget’ as a mascot, a term that has long been considered offensive by the disability community. Our goal is to pass legislation in all of those states, not just Illinois, to put an end to these harmful representations once and for all.”

Some background from the Belleville News-Democrat for context.…

Freeburg has been the “Midgets” for 90 years. Many people with dwarfism now consider the term a slur. […]

This fall, a grassroots group led by adults with dwarfism and parents of children with dwarfism in western and southern states lodged complaints against Freeburg High School with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, among other oversight agencies, according to group leader Rachel Wherley.

The group, Mascots Matter, is accusing Freeburg High School of violating federal anti-discrimination law by creating an environment that is hostile to people with disabilities.[…]

State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, is leading an effort in Illinois to pass legislation around school mascots.

He filed bills in 2020, 2024 and 2025 to ban Native American mascots. He also tried to get the Illinois State Board of Education to estimate what it would cost to change a mascot through a House resolution. So far, none of his efforts have been adopted.

* House Republican Organization…

As one of her first official actions in the Illinois General Assembly, Rep. Amy Briel has introduced House Bill 2569. Based on her campaign promises, voters likely expect that Briel is laser focused on issues like taxes, economic opportunity, and providing relief for Illinois families. Nope. While the jury is deliberating in Mike Madigan’s federal corruption trial, maybe Briel is focusing on anti-corruption reforms? Nope. This legislation allows for “rehabilitation” of skunks and raccoons.

While Illinois families grapple with inflation, crushing property taxes, rampant corruption, and rising crime rates, Briel has chosen to spend her time prioritizing pests. Her bill raises serious questions about her commitment to addressing the real challenges facing her constituents.

While the stench of corruption still lingers in Springfield, Briel seems more concerned with skunks than cleaning up government. Illinois families have held their noses over politicians’ misplaced priorities for long enough. They deserve better.

The 76th district stretches from Peru and Ottawa to Dekalb.

* McKnights Senior Living…

HB 3328, introduced Feb. 7 by Rep. Natalie Manley (D), would amend the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. When the regulations initially were written, the tools they listed likely were the best available at the time, according to LeadingAge Illinois Director of Government Relations Jason Speaks. Today, many of the tools listed in the regulations are “outdated, copyrighted and costly, and do not reflect recent advancements in dementia care,” he said.

“New, more effective assessments now exist that provide deeper insights into resident needs,” Speaks told McKnight’s Senior Living. The association is the state partner of the national LeadingAge and Argentum associations. “This legislation shifts the regulations away from specifying particular assessments and instead focuses on recognizing tools that are regularly reviewed and updated to align with current best practices and clinical standards in dementia care,” he added.

The proposed bill states that resident assessments before admission to assisted living communities should be “approved or recommended by recognized Alzheimer’s and dementia care experts” to ensure that they accurately identify and evaluate cognitive impairments related to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The bill also states that those tools will be reviewed and updated as needed to align with current best practices and clinical standards in dementia care.

* Sen. Craig Wilcox…

State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) has filed legislation designed to improve police training on identifying homicides that may have been staged to look like suicides. The bill, known as Mary Ann’s Law, is based on a strangulation death that occurred in an Illinois north shore community in 1996.

“One of the easiest ways to mask a homicide is to stage the crime scene to look like a suicide,” said Wilcox. “While initially classified as a suspicious death then later changed to suicide, the Mary Ann Hayes crime scene included several questionable findings that would suggest she did not take her own life; she was murdered.

According to Wilcox, in the Hayes case there was a history of domestic violence, including coercive control. When she died, she was found on the floor and a cord was found near the body. “Science tells us that suicide by strangulation is nearly impossible without a locking mechanism or leverage on the device used,” Wilcox said. “When a person falls unconscious during a strangulation attempt, unless a locking mechanism or leverage holds the tension in place, all pressure is removed and oxygen begins flowing to the brain, preventing death.”

Mary Ann’s Law aims to equip law enforcement officers with the knowledge and tools to better investigate such complex cases. Specifically, Senate Bill 1781 will mandate enhanced training for police to recognize staged suicides, particularly in instances involving a history of domestic violence. This new standard would require officers to closely scrutinize crime scenes for signs of domestic abuse, manipulation, or intentional staging.
The bill outlines a set of specific criteria that, when met, would require a deeper investigation into a death that appears to be a suicide. The criteria include:

- The victim died prematurely or in an untimely manner
- The scene appears on the surface to be a death by suicide or accidental death
- One partner ended or wanted to end their relationship
- A history of domestic violence and/or coercive control exists
- The victim is found in a home or place of residence or business
- The body is found by a current or former partner or family member
- A history of domestic violence that includes strangulation or suffocation exists
- A current or previous partner or child of the victim or family member was the last person to see the victim alive
- A partner had control of the crime scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement
- The victim’s body has been moved or evidence has been altered in some way

If three or more of these warning signs are present, law enforcement would be required to interview family and friends for context and could request a full autopsy before drawing any conclusions about the cause of death.

Wilcox stressed that the goal is not to undermine the work of first responders or investigators but to provide additional tools for solving cases where abusers attempt to cover up their crimes. “Our law enforcement officers are already doing a great job,” Wilcox said. “But this legislation will ensure they have the training to spot the signs that could reveal a hidden homicide, prevent abusers from getting away with murder, and bring justice to victims and their families.”