Mason Passes Big Wins for Property Tax Relief and Reform, Economic Growth, Voting Rights

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As Illinois taxpayers foot the fallout of Washington’s agenda that’s raised everyday prices, hampered trade and commerce nationwide, and threatened the erasure of constitutional rights, state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is taking steps through a series of measures to secure direct property tax relief for Illinois working families, improve the state’s economy and enshrine fundamental rights in the State Constitution.  

“Affordability is at the forefront of our minds, especially as we continue to experience increased prices,” said Mason. “I know how hard the families in my community work. No one deserves this kind of financial strain. Which is why I helped pass measures that protect Illinoisans first, whether that be through voting rights or through a just property tax system.”

House Bill 910, backed by Mason, delivers property tax relief to more communities by allowing local governments to negotiate Payments in Lieu of Taxation (PILOT) agreements for economic developments exceeding $100 million. In exchange for an agreed-upon assessment freeze, large developers would pay into the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund, in which 60-percent of payments aid local homeowners, with the remaining 40-percent earmarked for homeowners statewide. Data centers are ineligible for these incentives.

Mason also backed House Bill 799, which fixes a broken element in the property tax system by aligning the state with the U.S. Supreme Court Tyler v. Hennepin County ruling, barring “home equity theft,” and ensuring no Illinois resident loses the equity in their home due to old taxes. This measure guarantees that any excess profits generated from a home sale for delinquent taxes—beyond the original tax debt—will rightfully be returned to the previous, indebted owner.

With potential threat from the U.S. Supreme Court’s right-wing majority to weaken essential elements of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, Mason worked to pass House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28 (HJRCA 28), enshrining equal protections into the State Constitution. The measure seeks to counteract nationwide gerrymandering schemes limiting Black and Latino representation and ensures that Illinois voices are never silenced due to race—reinforcing Illinoisans’ equal protection to vote for the representative of their choice.

“I am proud to be a part of one of the most diverse House chambers in Illinois history,” said Mason. “We represent the people of Illinois, and that means our chamber should look like our state. When we pass major bills about property taxes and the economy, it’s important that all voices are heard, and all communities are taken into account. The best way we can do that is by blocking gerrymandering and maintaining the equal protections we have fought so hard for.”

All three measures will be heard in the Senate chamber for consideration.