103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2107 Introduced , by Rep. Daniel Didech SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, a person filing a tax objection complaint shall serve a copy of the tax objection complaint by electronic mail upon the applicable municipality and the school district. Provides that an objection to an assessment shall not be allowed by the court in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants if the person paying the taxes is unable to provide written evidence to the State's Attorney that a copy of the tax objection complaint was served on the municipality and the school district. Provides that, if an objection is made claiming incorrect valuation, the complaint shall specify the current assessment and the assessment alleged by the plaintiff to be correct. Provides that, when a taxing district has intervened in a tax objection proceeding and filed its appearance, compromise agreements shall not be accepted by the court over the objection of the intervening taxing district. LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2107 Introduced , by Rep. Daniel Didech SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, a person filing a tax objection complaint shall serve a copy of the tax objection complaint by electronic mail upon the applicable municipality and the school district. Provides that an objection to an assessment shall not be allowed by the court in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants if the person paying the taxes is unable to provide written evidence to the State's Attorney that a copy of the tax objection complaint was served on the municipality and the school district. Provides that, if an objection is made claiming incorrect valuation, the complaint shall specify the current assessment and the assessment alleged by the plaintiff to be correct. Provides that, when a taxing district has intervened in a tax objection proceeding and filed its appearance, compromise agreements shall not be accepted by the court over the objection of the intervening taxing district. LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2107 Introduced , by Rep. Daniel Didech SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, a person filing a tax objection complaint shall serve a copy of the tax objection complaint by electronic mail upon the applicable municipality and the school district. Provides that an objection to an assessment shall not be allowed by the court in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants if the person paying the taxes is unable to provide written evidence to the State's Attorney that a copy of the tax objection complaint was served on the municipality and the school district. Provides that, if an objection is made claiming incorrect valuation, the complaint shall specify the current assessment and the assessment alleged by the plaintiff to be correct. Provides that, when a taxing district has intervened in a tax objection proceeding and filed its appearance, compromise agreements shall not be accepted by the court over the objection of the intervening taxing district. LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b A BILL FOR HB2107LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b 1 AN ACT concerning revenue. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing 5 Sections 23-10, 23-15, and 23-30 as follows: 6 (35 ILCS 200/23-10) 7 Sec. 23-10. Tax objections and copies. Beginning with the 8 2003 tax year, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, 9 the person paying the taxes due as provided in Section 23-5 may 10 file a tax objection complaint under Section 23-15 within 165 11 days after the first penalty date of the final installment of 12 taxes for the year in question. In counties with 3,000,000 or 13 more inhabitants, within 30 days of the filing of the tax 14 objection complaint, the person filing the tax objection 15 complaint shall serve a copy of the tax objection complaint by 16 electronic mail upon the municipality and the school districts 17 whose tax moneys may be affected by the tax objection 18 complaint. The person providing a copy of the tax objection 19 complaint shall send such copy to the electronic mail address 20 for the municipality and school districts used by the local 21 county clerk for tax extension purposes. The local county 22 clerk shall make such electronic mail addresses readily 23 available. Beginning with the 2003 tax year, in counties with 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2107 Introduced , by Rep. Daniel Didech SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, a person filing a tax objection complaint shall serve a copy of the tax objection complaint by electronic mail upon the applicable municipality and the school district. Provides that an objection to an assessment shall not be allowed by the court in a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants if the person paying the taxes is unable to provide written evidence to the State's Attorney that a copy of the tax objection complaint was served on the municipality and the school district. Provides that, if an objection is made claiming incorrect valuation, the complaint shall specify the current assessment and the assessment alleged by the plaintiff to be correct. Provides that, when a taxing district has intervened in a tax objection proceeding and filed its appearance, compromise agreements shall not be accepted by the court over the objection of the intervening taxing district. LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b A BILL FOR 35 ILCS 200/23-10 35 ILCS 200/23-15 35 ILCS 200/23-30 LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107- 2 -LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 2 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 2 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b 1 less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the person paying the taxes 2 due as provided in Section 23-5 may file a tax objection 3 complaint under Section 23-15 within 75 days after the first 4 penalty date of the final installment of taxes for the year in 5 question. However, in all counties in cases in which the 6 complaint is permitted to be filed without payment under 7 Section 23-5, it must be filed prior to the entry of judgment 8 under Section 21-175. In addition, the time specified for 9 payment of the tax provided in Section 23-5 shall not be 10 construed to delay or prevent the entry of judgment against, 11 or the sale of, tax delinquent property if the taxes have not 12 been paid prior to the entry of judgment under Section 21-175. 13 However, an An objection to an assessment for any year shall 14 not be allowed by the court, however, if (i) an administrative 15 remedy was available by complaint to the board of appeals or 16 board of review under Section 16-55 or Section 16-115 and , 17 unless that remedy was not exhausted prior to the filing of the 18 tax objection complaint or (ii) in counties with 3,000,000 or 19 more inhabitants, the person paying the taxes is unable to 20 provide written evidence to the State's Attorney that a copy 21 of the tax objection complaint was served by electronic mail 22 on the municipality and school district. 23 When any complaint is filed with the court in a county with 24 less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the plaintiff shall file 3 25 copies of the complaint with the clerk of the circuit court. 26 Any complaint or amendment thereto shall contain (i) on the HB2107 - 2 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107- 3 -LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 3 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 3 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b 1 first page a listing of the taxing districts against which the 2 complaint is directed and (ii) a summary of the reasons for the 3 tax objections set forth in the complaint with enough copies 4 of the summary to be distributed to each of the taxing 5 districts against which the complaint is directed. Within 10 6 days after the complaint is filed, the clerk of the circuit 7 court shall deliver one copy to the State's Attorney and one 8 copy to the county clerk, taking their receipts therefor. The 9 county clerk shall, within 30 days from the last day for the 10 filing of complaints, notify the duly elected or appointed 11 custodian of funds for each taxing district that may be 12 affected by the complaint, stating (i) that a complaint has 13 been filed and (ii) the summary of the reasons for the tax 14 objections set forth in the complaint. Any amendment to a 15 complaint, except any amendment permitted to be made in open 16 court during the course of a hearing on the complaint, shall 17 also be filed in triplicate, with one copy delivered to the 18 State's Attorney and one copy delivered to the county clerk by 19 the clerk of the circuit court. The State's Attorney shall 20 within 10 days of receiving his or her copy of the amendment 21 notify the duly elected or appointed custodian of funds for 22 each taxing district whose tax monies may be affected by the 23 amendment, stating (i) that the amendment has been filed and 24 (ii) the summary of the reasons for the tax objections set 25 forth in the amended complaint. The State's Attorney shall 26 also notify the custodian and the county clerk in writing of HB2107 - 3 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107- 4 -LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 4 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 4 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b 1 the date, time, and place of any hearing before the court to be 2 held upon the complaint or amended complaint not later than 4 3 days prior to the hearing. The notices provided in this 4 Section shall be by letter addressed to the custodian or the 5 county clerk and may be mailed by regular mail, postage 6 prepaid, postmarked within the required period, but not less 7 than 4 days before a hearing. 8 (Source: P.A. 93-378, eff. 7-24-03.) 9 (35 ILCS 200/23-15) 10 Sec. 23-15. Tax objection procedure and hearing. 11 (a) A tax objection complaint under Section 23-10 shall be 12 filed in the circuit court of the county in which the subject 13 property is located. Joinder of plaintiffs shall be permitted 14 to the same extent permitted by law in any personal action 15 pending in the court and shall be in accordance with Section 16 2-404 of the Code of Civil Procedure; provided, however, that 17 no complaint shall be filed as a class action. If an objection 18 is made claiming incorrect valuation, the complaint shall 19 specify the current assessment and the assessment alleged by 20 the plaintiff to be correct. The complaint shall name the 21 county collector as defendant and shall specify any objections 22 that the plaintiff may have to the taxes in question. No 23 appearance or answer by the county collector to the tax 24 objection complaint, nor any further pleadings, need be filed. 25 Amendments to the complaint may be made to the same extent HB2107 - 4 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107- 5 -LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 5 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 5 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b 1 which, by law, could be made in any personal action pending in 2 the court. 3 (b) (1) The court, sitting without a jury, shall hear and 4 determine all objections specified to the taxes, assessments, 5 or levies in question. This Section shall be construed to 6 provide a complete remedy for any claims with respect to those 7 taxes, assessments, or levies, excepting only matters for 8 which an exclusive remedy is provided elsewhere in this Code. 9 (2) The taxes, assessments, and levies that are the 10 subject of the objection shall be presumed correct and legal, 11 but the presumption is rebuttable. The plaintiff has the 12 burden of proving any contested matter of fact by clear and 13 convincing evidence. 14 (3) Objections to assessments shall be heard de novo by 15 the court. The court shall grant relief in the cases in which 16 the objector meets the burden of proof under this Section and 17 shows an assessment to be incorrect or illegal. If an 18 objection is made claiming incorrect valuation, the court 19 shall consider the objection without regard to the correctness 20 of any practice, procedure, or method of valuation followed by 21 the assessor, board of appeals, or board of review in making or 22 reviewing the assessment, and without regard to the intent or 23 motivation of any assessing official. The doctrine known as 24 constructive fraud is hereby abolished for purposes of all 25 challenges to taxes, assessments, or levies. 26 (c) If the court orders a refund of any part of the taxes HB2107 - 5 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107- 6 -LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 6 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 6 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b 1 paid, it shall also order the payment of interest as provided 2 in Section 23-20. Appeals may be taken from final judgments as 3 in other civil cases. 4 (d) This amendatory Act of 1995 shall apply to all tax 5 objection matters still pending for any tax year, except as 6 provided in Sections 23-5 and 23-10 regarding procedures and 7 time limitations for payment of taxes and filing tax objection 8 complaints. 9 (e) In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if 10 the court renders a decision lowering the assessment of a 11 particular parcel on which a residence occupied by the owner 12 is situated, the reduced assessment, subject to equalization, 13 shall remain in effect for the remainder of the general 14 assessment period as provided in Sections 9-215 through 9-225, 15 unless that parcel is subsequently sold in an arm's length 16 transaction establishing a fair cash value for the parcel that 17 is different from the fair cash value on which the court's 18 assessment is based, or unless the decision of the court is 19 reversed or modified upon review. 20 (Source: P.A. 88-455; 88-642, eff. 9-9-94; 89-126, eff. 21 7-11-95; 89-290, eff. 1-1-96; 89-593, eff. 8-1-96; 89-626, 22 eff. 8-9-96.) 23 (35 ILCS 200/23-30) 24 Sec. 23-30. Conference on tax objection. Following the 25 filing of an objection under Section 23-10, the court may hold HB2107 - 6 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107- 7 -LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 7 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b HB2107 - 7 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b 1 a conference with the objector and the State's Attorney. 2 Compromise agreements on tax objections reached by conference 3 shall be filed with the court, and the parties shall prepare an 4 order covering the settlement and submit the order to the 5 court for entry. When a taxing district has intervened in a tax 6 objection proceeding and filed its appearance, compromise 7 agreements shall not be accepted by the court over the 8 objection of the intervening taxing district. 9 (Source: P.A. 88-455; 89-126, eff. 7-11-95.) HB2107 - 7 - LRB103 04743 HLH 49752 b