104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2424 Introduced , by Rep. Rita Mayfield SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-175 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purpose of eligibility for the general homestead exemption, "homestead property" also includes property that is used by a person as his or her principal dwelling place and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes under a lease-to-purchase or a lease-option contract. LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2424 Introduced , by Rep. Rita Mayfield SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/15-175 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purpose of eligibility for the general homestead exemption, "homestead property" also includes property that is used by a person as his or her principal dwelling place and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes under a lease-to-purchase or a lease-option contract. LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2424 Introduced , by Rep. Rita Mayfield SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/15-175 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purpose of eligibility for the general homestead exemption, "homestead property" also includes property that is used by a person as his or her principal dwelling place and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes under a lease-to-purchase or a lease-option contract. LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b A BILL FOR HB2424LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 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 Section 15-175 as follows: 6 (35 ILCS 200/15-175) 7 Sec. 15-175. General homestead exemption. 8 (a) Except as provided in Sections 15-176 and 15-177, 9 homestead property is entitled to an annual homestead 10 exemption limited, except as described here with relation to 11 cooperatives or life care facilities, to a reduction in the 12 equalized assessed value of homestead property equal to the 13 increase in equalized assessed value for the current 14 assessment year above the equalized assessed value of the 15 property for 1977, up to the maximum reduction set forth 16 below. If however, the 1977 equalized assessed value upon 17 which taxes were paid is subsequently determined by local 18 assessing officials, the Property Tax Appeal Board, or a court 19 to have been excessive, the equalized assessed value which 20 should have been placed on the property for 1977 shall be used 21 to determine the amount of the exemption. 22 (b) Except as provided in Section 15-176, the maximum 23 reduction before taxable year 2004 shall be $4,500 in counties 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2424 Introduced , by Rep. Rita Mayfield SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/15-175 35 ILCS 200/15-175 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purpose of eligibility for the general homestead exemption, "homestead property" also includes property that is used by a person as his or her principal dwelling place and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes under a lease-to-purchase or a lease-option contract. LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b A BILL FOR 35 ILCS 200/15-175 LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 2 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 2 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 2 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $3,500 in all other 2 counties. Except as provided in Sections 15-176 and 15-177, 3 for taxable years 2004 through 2007, the maximum reduction 4 shall be $5,000, for taxable year 2008, the maximum reduction 5 is $5,500, and, for taxable years 2009 through 2011, the 6 maximum reduction is $6,000 in all counties. For taxable years 7 2012 through 2016, the maximum reduction is $7,000 in counties 8 with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $6,000 in all other 9 counties. For taxable years 2017 through 2022, the maximum 10 reduction is $10,000 in counties with 3,000,000 or more 11 inhabitants and $6,000 in all other counties. For taxable 12 years 2023 and thereafter, the maximum reduction is $10,000 in 13 counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, $8,000 in 14 counties that are contiguous to a county of 3,000,000 or more 15 inhabitants, and $6,000 in all other counties. If a county has 16 elected to subject itself to the provisions of Section 15-176 17 as provided in subsection (k) of that Section, then, for the 18 first taxable year only after the provisions of Section 15-176 19 no longer apply, for owners who, for the taxable year, have not 20 been granted a senior citizens assessment freeze homestead 21 exemption under Section 15-172 or a long-time occupant 22 homestead exemption under Section 15-177, there shall be an 23 additional exemption of $5,000 for owners with a household 24 income of $30,000 or less. 25 (c) In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if, 26 based on the most recent assessment, the equalized assessed HB2424 - 2 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 3 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 3 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 3 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 value of the homestead property for the current assessment 2 year is greater than the equalized assessed value of the 3 property for 1977, the owner of the property shall 4 automatically receive the exemption granted under this Section 5 in an amount equal to the increase over the 1977 assessment up 6 to the maximum reduction set forth in this Section. 7 (d) If in any assessment year beginning with the 2000 8 assessment year, homestead property has a pro-rata valuation 9 under Section 9-180 resulting in an increase in the assessed 10 valuation, a reduction in equalized assessed valuation equal 11 to the increase in equalized assessed value of the property 12 for the year of the pro-rata valuation above the equalized 13 assessed value of the property for 1977 shall be applied to the 14 property on a proportionate basis for the period the property 15 qualified as homestead property during the assessment year. 16 The maximum proportionate homestead exemption shall not exceed 17 the maximum homestead exemption allowed in the county under 18 this Section divided by 365 and multiplied by the number of 19 days the property qualified as homestead property. 20 (d-1) In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, 21 where the chief county assessment officer provides a notice of 22 discovery, if a property is not occupied by its owner as a 23 principal residence as of January 1 of the current tax year, 24 then the property owner shall notify the chief county 25 assessment officer of that fact on a form prescribed by the 26 chief county assessment officer. That notice must be received HB2424 - 3 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 4 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 4 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 4 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 by the chief county assessment officer on or before March 1 of 2 the collection year. If mailed, the form shall be sent by 3 certified mail, return receipt requested. If the form is 4 provided in person, the chief county assessment officer shall 5 provide a date stamped copy of the notice. Failure to provide 6 timely notice pursuant to this subsection (d-1) shall result 7 in the exemption being treated as an erroneous exemption. Upon 8 timely receipt of the notice for the current tax year, no 9 exemption shall be applied to the property for the current tax 10 year. If the exemption is not removed upon timely receipt of 11 the notice by the chief assessment officer, then the error is 12 considered granted as a result of a clerical error or omission 13 on the part of the chief county assessment officer as 14 described in subsection (h) of Section 9-275, and the property 15 owner shall not be liable for the payment of interest and 16 penalties due to the erroneous exemption for the current tax 17 year for which the notice was filed after the date that notice 18 was timely received pursuant to this subsection. Notice 19 provided under this subsection shall not constitute a defense 20 or amnesty for prior year erroneous exemptions. 21 For the purposes of this subsection (d-1): 22 "Collection year" means the year in which the first and 23 second installment of the current tax year is billed. 24 "Current tax year" means the year prior to the collection 25 year. 26 (e) The chief county assessment officer may, when HB2424 - 4 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 5 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 5 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 5 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 considering whether to grant a leasehold exemption under this 2 Section, require the following conditions to be met: 3 (1) that a notarized application for the exemption, 4 signed by both the owner and the lessee of the property, 5 must be submitted each year during the application period 6 in effect for the county in which the property is located; 7 (2) that a copy of the lease must be filed with the 8 chief county assessment officer by the owner of the 9 property at the time the notarized application is 10 submitted; 11 (3) that the lease must expressly state that the 12 lessee is liable for the payment of property taxes; and 13 (4) that the lease must include the following language 14 in substantially the following form: 15 "Lessee shall be liable for the payment of real 16 estate taxes with respect to the residence in 17 accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 18 15-175 of the Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/15-175). 19 The permanent real estate index number for the 20 premises is (insert number), and, according to the 21 most recent property tax bill, the current amount of 22 real estate taxes associated with the premises is 23 (insert amount) per year. The parties agree that the 24 monthly rent set forth above shall be increased or 25 decreased pro rata (effective January 1 of each 26 calendar year) to reflect any increase or decrease in HB2424 - 5 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 6 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 6 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 6 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 real estate taxes. Lessee shall be deemed to be 2 satisfying Lessee's liability for the above mentioned 3 real estate taxes with the monthly rent payments as 4 set forth above (or increased or decreased as set 5 forth herein).". 6 In addition, if there is a change in lessee, or if the 7 lessee vacates the property, then the chief county assessment 8 officer may require the owner of the property to notify the 9 chief county assessment officer of that change. 10 This subsection (e) does not apply to leasehold interests 11 in property owned by a municipality. 12 (f) "Homestead property" under this Section includes 13 residential property that is occupied by its owner or owners 14 as his or their principal dwelling place, or that is a 15 leasehold interest on which a single family residence is 16 situated, which is occupied as a residence by a person who has 17 an ownership interest therein, legal or equitable or as a 18 lessee, and on which the person is liable for the payment of 19 property taxes. For taxable year 2026 and each taxable year 20 thereafter, "homestead property" also includes property that 21 is used by a person as his or her principal dwelling place and 22 on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes 23 under a lease-to-purchase or a lease-option contract. For land 24 improved with an apartment building owned and operated as a 25 cooperative, the maximum reduction from the equalized assessed 26 value shall be limited to the increase in the value above the HB2424 - 6 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 7 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 7 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 7 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 equalized assessed value of the property for 1977, up to the 2 maximum reduction set forth above, multiplied by the number of 3 apartments or units occupied by a person or persons who is 4 liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for 5 paying property taxes on the property and is an owner of record 6 of a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment 7 building, other than a leasehold interest. For land improved 8 with a life care facility, the maximum reduction from the 9 value of the property, as equalized by the Department, shall 10 be multiplied by the number of apartments or units occupied by 11 a person or persons, irrespective of any legal, equitable, or 12 leasehold interest in the facility, who are liable, under a 13 life care contract with the owner or owners of record of the 14 facility, for paying property taxes on the property. For 15 purposes of this Section, the term "life care facility" has 16 the meaning stated in Section 15-170. 17 "Household", as used in this Section, means the owner, the 18 spouse of the owner, and all persons using the residence of the 19 owner as their principal place of residence. 20 "Household income", as used in this Section, means the 21 combined income of the members of a household for the calendar 22 year preceding the taxable year. 23 "Income", as used in this Section, has the same meaning as 24 provided in Section 3.07 of the Senior Citizens and Persons 25 with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, except that 26 "income" does not include veteran's benefits. HB2424 - 7 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 8 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 8 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 8 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 (g) In a cooperative or life care facility where a 2 homestead exemption has been granted, the cooperative 3 association or the management of the cooperative or life care 4 facility shall credit the savings resulting from that 5 exemption only to the apportioned tax liability of the owner 6 or resident who qualified for the exemption. Any person who 7 willfully refuses to so credit the savings shall be guilty of a 8 Class B misdemeanor. 9 (h) Where married persons maintain and reside in separate 10 residences qualifying as homestead property, each residence 11 shall receive 50% of the total reduction in equalized assessed 12 valuation provided by this Section. 13 (i) In all counties, the assessor or chief county 14 assessment officer may determine the eligibility of 15 residential property to receive the homestead exemption and 16 the amount of the exemption by application, visual inspection, 17 questionnaire or other reasonable methods. The determination 18 shall be made in accordance with guidelines established by the 19 Department, provided that the taxpayer applying for an 20 additional general exemption under this Section shall submit 21 to the chief county assessment officer an application with an 22 affidavit of the applicant's total household income, age, 23 marital status (and, if married, the name and address of the 24 applicant's spouse, if known), and principal dwelling place of 25 members of the household on January 1 of the taxable year. The 26 Department shall issue guidelines establishing a method for HB2424 - 8 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 9 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 9 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 9 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b 1 verifying the accuracy of the affidavits filed by applicants 2 under this paragraph. The applications shall be clearly marked 3 as applications for the Additional General Homestead 4 Exemption. 5 (i-5) This subsection (i-5) applies to counties with 6 3,000,000 or more inhabitants. In the event of a sale of 7 homestead property, the homestead exemption shall remain in 8 effect for the remainder of the assessment year of the sale. 9 Upon receipt of a transfer declaration transmitted by the 10 recorder pursuant to Section 31-30 of the Real Estate Transfer 11 Tax Law for property receiving an exemption under this 12 Section, the assessor shall mail a notice and forms to the new 13 owner of the property providing information pertaining to the 14 rules and applicable filing periods for applying or reapplying 15 for homestead exemptions under this Code for which the 16 property may be eligible. If the new owner fails to apply or 17 reapply for a homestead exemption during the applicable filing 18 period or the property no longer qualifies for an existing 19 homestead exemption, the assessor shall cancel such exemption 20 for any ensuing assessment year. 21 (j) In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, in 22 the event of a sale of homestead property the homestead 23 exemption shall remain in effect for the remainder of the 24 assessment year of the sale. The assessor or chief county 25 assessment officer may require the new owner of the property 26 to apply for the homestead exemption for the following HB2424 - 9 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424- 10 -LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 10 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 10 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b HB2424 - 10 - LRB104 09450 JRC 19510 b