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.”

CHICAGO – Thanks to a new law supported by state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, homeowners who qualify for the senior homestead property tax exemption will no longer need to annually reapply to keep the exemption.

“Seniors that qualify for the exemption shouldn’t have to go through the process to requalify every year,” said Andrade. “Part of fixing the property tax system is cutting through red tape that makes life more difficult for middle-class homeowners. This is an easy way to make it easier for seniors to get real relief.”

Andrade sponsored House Bill 833, which creates a five-year pilot program that will allow homeowners to continue receiving the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption without having to reapply every year. Andrade hopes the pilot program will prove to be successful.

“Cook County is currently the only county that requires seniors to file an application every year, and that is an unnecessary burden,” said Andrade. “Now that this bill is law, the senior homestead exemption is not going to require yearly maintenance for people living in Chicago.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Helping build a better Illinois and stronger middle class, state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, is highlighting a new law that simplifies the application process for Cook County seniors seeking the Senior Homestead Exemption.

“Property tax relief is key for residents in our area, especially seniors who are living on a fixed income,” Jones said. “Seniors in Cook County now do not need to apply for their exemptions each year, which has caused some taxes to accidentally increase on seniors due to the yearly mandate, causing older homeowners to miss out on much-needed savings.”

Jones supported House Bill 833, which institutes a 5-year pilot project for Cook County to allow senior citizens to apply for the senior homestead exemption once instead of having to apply for it annually. The new law will help maintain critical tax exemptions for seniors, preventing a tax hike because seniors did not reapply. The law further requires the Cook County Assessor to list the number of years remaining before a senior must reapply on assessment notices and includes protections to terminate the exemption when a senior citizen passes away. Additionally, the new law requires the Cook County Assessor to perform at least two audits of all claimed senior exemptions and take action to correct erroneously or fraudulently claimed exemptions.

Previously, Cook County seniors had to reapply annually for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption while all other counties can choose to allow seniors to have the exemption automatically applied each year.

“Seniors should not be on the hook for annual applications, especially when most counties already have this practice in place,” Jones said. “Making the application process easier for local seniors will cut down on burdensome paperwork mandates, and also help prevent seniors from overpaying on their property taxes.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law supported by state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Northlake, will protect seniors from their property taxes increasing by creating a five-year program that maintains the Cook County Senior homestead Exemption, eliminating a mandated annual application for the exemption.

“Seniors living on a fixed-income already pay a lot in taxes, and they should not be overpaying on property taxes because of burdensome paperwork,” Willis said. “This new law will cut down on bureaucratic paperwork and install a simpler policy to help seniors save on taxes.”  

Previously, Cook County seniors had to reapply annually for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption while all other counties can choose to allow seniors to have the exemption automatically applied each year.

Willis supported House Bill 833, which institutes a 5-year pilot project for Cook County to allow senior citizens to apply for the senior homestead exemption once instead of having to apply for it annually. The law requires the Cook County Assessor to list the number of years remaining before a senior must reapply on assessment notices and includes protections to terminate the exemption when a senior citizen passes away. Additionally, the new law requires the Cook County Assessor to perform at least two audits of all claimed senior exemptions and take action to correct erroneously or fraudulently claimed exemptions.

“No one should be paying more in taxes than they already do, and this will help thousands of seniors from paying more,” Willis said. “I am fighting to build a stronger Illinois and middle class, and reducing overbearing paperwork to help seniors keep more of their money will help.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law from state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, will begin to simplify Cook County’s byzantine property tax system by instituting a program to reduce the amount of times seniors must apply for property tax exemptions.

“Rising property taxes are hurting Cook County seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes,” Lilly said. “This law will help ensure that seniors are receiving the property tax savings they have earned by reducing burdensome application requirements.”

Lilly sponsored House Bill 833, which institutes a 5-year pilot project for Cook County to allow senior citizens to apply for the senior homestead exemption once instead of having to apply for it annually. Currently, Cook County seniors must reapply annually for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption while all other counties can choose to allow seniors to have the exemption automatically applied each year. Lilly’s law requires the Cook County Assessor to list the number of years remaining before a senior must reapply on assessment notices and includes protections to terminate the exemption when a senior citizen passes away. Additionally, the new law requires the Cook County Assessor to perform at least two audits of all claimed senior exemptions and take action to correct erroneously or fraudulently claimed exemptions. By reforming the annual application process, Lilly’s law will help to ensure that senior citizen homeowners are accessing their exemptions and are not overpaying property taxes.

“Building a stronger Illinois means creating fairer taxes for the middle class, including seniors who have spent their lives making our communities better,” Lilly said. “Simplifying our property tax system for seniors will reduce burdensome paperwork requirements, help ensure seniors aren’t overpaying their property taxes and could be the difference between a senior staying in their home or being forced to move.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, is applauding a new property tax relief law that helps Cook county seniors save on property taxes by enacting a program that maintains critical tax exemptions.

“Nearly 30,000 seniors in Cook County could have prevented their taxes from artificially rising had their homestead exemptions stayed in place,” said Carroll. “Cook County was the only county in Illinois that neglected to have a safeguard in place for seniors that forced them to apply in person to keep their exemption. This new law streamlines this process significantly by keeping seniors’ exemptions in place.”

Previously, Cook County seniors had to reapply annually for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption while all other counties can choose to allow seniors to have the exemption automatically applied each year.

Carroll supported House Bill 833, which institutes a 5-year pilot project for Cook County to allow senior citizens to apply for the senior homestead exemption once instead of having to apply for it annually. The law requires the Cook County Assessor to list the number of years remaining before a senior must reapply on assessment notices and includes protections to terminate the exemption when a senior citizen passes away. Additionally, the new law requires the Cook County Assessor to perform at least two audits of all claimed senior exemptions and take action to correct erroneously or fraudulently claimed exemptions.

“By reforming the annual application process, the new policy will help to ensure that senior homeowners are accessing their exemptions and are not overpaying property taxes,” said Carroll. “Illinois seniors living on a fixed income need as much tax relief as possible, and this is a good measure that will help people save hundreds in taxes.”

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Under legislation supported by state Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, seniors in Cook County will no longer be required by law to reapply annually for senior homestead exemptions on their property taxes. This legislation was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in August.

“It is critical that we continue to fight for lower property taxes and work to ensure that all homeowners receive the exemptions and relief they need and deserve,” Mussman said. “With this new legislation in place, seniors who qualify for an exemption do not need to worry about reapplying each year or fear missing a deadline. They can sleep soundly knowing that they aren’t forgetting any deadlines when it comes to their property taxes, and that they will still receive the relief they need each year.”

The Mussman-backed House Bill 833 creates a pilot program to allow qualifying seniors to continue receiving their Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption without having to reapply each year. Prior to this measure, Cook County was the only county where seniors were required by state law to reapply for their exemption annually. According to the Cook County Treasurer’s office, as many as 26,000 Cook County seniors did not reapply for annual property tax exemptions and discounts, totaling an estimated $45 million in relief.  This measure will help ensure that qualifying seniors receive much-needed exemptions.

“There is more work to be done to continue to ease the financial burden placed on homeowners in Illinois, but this legislation takes one more step in the right direction,” Mussman said. “Providing relief for homeowners in our community and across our state will help us build a stronger middle-class and create a better future for all families.”

CHICAGO – Legislation backed by state Rep. Yehiel “Mark” Kalish, D-Chicago, which would make it easier for Cook County seniors to receive cost-saving exemptions awaits Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature.

“Rising property taxes cause a serious burden on families throughout the district, especially on seniors who may be living on a fixed income,” Kalish said. “This proposal streamlines the exemption process and will help ensure that seniors in Cook County are receiving the savings on their property tax bill that they deserve.”

Kalish backed House Bill 833, which creates a five-year pilot program from 2020 to 2024 for qualifying seniors to continue receiving their Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption without having to reapply each year. Cook County is currently the only county in Illinois where older homeowners are forced to annually go through the burdensome application process in order to receive their senior property tax exemption.

According to the Cook County Treasurer’s office, as many as 26,000 local seniors in Cook County didn’t reapply for annual property tax exemptions and discounts, potentially paying an estimated $45 million more than they should. Kalish’s measure would simplify the complicated exemption process, ensuring that qualifying seniors do not miss out on necessary property tax relief.

“Seniors are missing out on critical savings because of an unfair and bureaucratic process, this legislation fixes that,” Kalish said. “I’m hopeful that the governor will sign this proposal and help bring much-needed relief to seniors on their property taxes.”

Local seniors are encouraged to contact the Cook County Treasurer’s office, at 312-443-5100, to ensure they are receiving their property tax exemptions.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, will fight for reforms that put Illinois Valley homeowners first and ease the burden of property taxes as a member of a new Property Tax Relief Task Force.  

“I made a pledge to Illinois Valley families that I would fight every day for to put the needs of the middle class first, and that means fairer taxes for our families,” Yednock said. “This task force recognizes the need for immediate and long-term relief, and I look forward to putting all ideas on the table and coming to a bipartisan solution.”

Yednock voted to create the Property Tax Relief Task Force by passing Senate Bill 1932. The measure was signed into law Friday, and Yednock was chosen to serve on the bipartisan panel. Within 90 days, the task force will produce a report outlining structural and legislative reforms that will provide both immediate and long-term relief for homeowners. 

Yednock also supported Senate Bill 39, which establishes the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund. The fund will provide homeowners with annual rebates to lower their property taxes.

“Property tax relief is an absolute necessity, as this will help keep people here in Illinois but build a stronger middle class.” said Yednock. “I look forward to working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to solve one of Illinois’ most pressing issues.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, will push for reforms that ease the burden of property taxes and put middle-class families first as a member of the newly-formed Property Tax Relief Task Force.

“Illinois property taxes are some of the most strenuous in this country. I’m glad to be a part of this crucial task force; not only so I can help solve one of this state’s biggest problems, but so I can fight for much-needed tax relief for our community,” Hernandez said. “Local residents have had enough of taxes that punish them financially simply because they want to own a home.”

Hernandez passed Senate Bill 1932, which creates the Property Tax Relief Task Force. The measure was signed into law Friday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Hernandez was chosen to represent the House Democratic Caucus on the panel. Within 90 days, the task force will produce a report outlining structural and legislative reforms that will provide both short- and long-term relief for homeowners.  

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois currently has the second highest property tax rate in the country. The median value of a home in Illinois is $179,000, which Illinois taxes at $4,151 every year.

“Property tax relief is central to my pledge to build a stronger Illinois,” Hernandez said. “Right now, skyrocketing property taxes are constraining economic opportunity, and that cannot continue. I’m confident this task force is the first step in curing Illinois of the problem of unreasonable property taxes.”