Walker-Sponsored Senior Property Tax Relief Bill Now Law

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Senior citizens will no longer have to reapply annually for their Cook County Senior Homestead Exemption thanks to legislation spearheaded by state Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights.

“Our high property taxes are a burden for homeowners, especially for seniors on fixed incomes,” Walker said. “It was unnecessary for Cook County to require seniors to apply yearly for the homestead exemption. I backed this legislation because seniors in my district should be paying less in property taxes, and I want to make sure that everyone receives the exemption they deserve. It was too easy before for someone to lose out on their exemption because they forgot to submit some paperwork.”

Recently signed into law, House Bill 833 creates a five-year pilot program in Cook County that requires seniors to submit their homestead exemption only once instead of annually. The new law requires the Cook County Assessor’s office to list how many years a resident has until they must reapply.

“We hear too often about seniors being taxed out of the home they’ve lived in for decades,” Walker said. “Whether it’s passing commonsense legislation like this bill or finding smart solutions through the Property Tax Relief Task Force, I’m dedicated to lowering property taxes. This measure will help thousands of seniors save more of their hard-earned money.”