Mah-Backed Senior Property Tax Relief Measure Signed into Law

CHICAGO – Cook County homeowners who receive the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption this year will be able to keep that exemption through 2024 thanks to legislation sponsored by state Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, and signed into law Tuesday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption can save homeowners hundreds, or even thousands of dollars each year, but is often overlooked by residents who have lived in their home for decades. They may assume they are already covered, or they simply forget to reapply,” said Mah. “This new law will help ensure more seniors receive the exemptions for which they qualify, so they can continue to afford living in their home full of cherished memories.”

Hundreds of thousands of Cook County residents who were eligible for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption did not apply last year, according to the Cook County Assessor’s office. Under Mah’s House Bill 961, those who apply for and receive the exemption this year will not need to reapply for a five-year period. The five-year automatic renewal period was previously set to begin in 2021.