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Bill

HB 1842

Industrial development authorities; Town of Front Royal.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Delores Oates

Allows municipalities to require remediation of code violations and impose orders prohibiting further violations through trained, attorney-hearing officers with defined penalties.

Defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N)
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Bill Summary · HB 1842

Summary — HB 1842 (Illinois) / Public Act 104-0200

Status: Enacted (Public Act 104-0200). Governor approved 08/15/2025. Effective date: 01/01/2026.

Note on materials provided: the packet included multiple, inconsistent entries (references to an appropriation for the Town of Bude, an Arkansas bill, and other records). This summary focuses on the Illinois measure whose full text appears in the materials and which was enacted as Public Act 104-0200.

Purpose and intent

The bill amends Section 1-2.1-4 of the Illinois Municipal Code (Administrative Adjudications Division) to clarify and expand the powers and required qualifications of municipal administrative hearing officers who adjudicate municipal code violations. The primary intent is to expressly authorize hearing officers to enter orders that prohibit further violations and compel remediation, and to set/confirm procedural, training, and penalty limits for administrative adjudication systems.

Key provisions

  • Adds explicit authority for hearing officers to:
    • Enter orders prohibiting further code violations.
    • Compel remediation of existing code violations within a specified time.
    • Authorize the municipality to take all necessary steps to remediate violations if ordered.
  • Affirms existing adjudicatory powers including:
    • Taking testimony and receiving evidence.
    • Issuing subpoenas.
    • Preserving and authenticating the hearing record.
    • Issuing written determinations containing findings of fact, decisions, orders, and fines/penalties.
  • Penalty limits and exclusions:
    • Hearing officers may not impose incarceration.
    • Monetary fines capped at $50,000, or at the municipality’s option another amount not to exceed the maximum established by the Mandatory Arbitration System for the judicial circuit (per Illinois Supreme Court rules). Fines exclude costs of enforcement or costs to secure compliance.
    • Provisions do not apply to municipal tax collection enforcement.
  • Training and qualification requirements:
    • Before conducting administrative adjudications, hearing officers must complete a formal training program including procedure instruction, subject-area orientation, observation of hearings, and participation in hypothetical cases.
    • Every administrative hearing officer must be an attorney licensed in Illinois for at least 3 years.
    • Persons who have served as Illinois judges are exempt from portions of the training requirements.
  • Commencement of proceedings:
    • Proceedings before a code hearing unit are instituted upon filing of a written pleading by an authorized municipal official.

Who is affected

  • Municipalities that use or establish administrative adjudication systems and code hearing units.
  • Municipal administrative hearing officers (must meet the attorney and training requirements).
  • Property owners, businesses, and individuals subject to municipal code enforcement — subject to expanded remedial orders and potential costs assessed.
  • Municipal budgets and enforcement operations — municipalities may undertake remediation steps and recover costs consistent with orders.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • Enacted as Public Act 104-0200. Governor approved 08/15/2025. Effective on 01/01/2026.
  • The bill’s text underwent a House amendment clarifying language; the enrolled version implements the changes summarized above.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Streamlines municipal ability to compel remediation through administrative processes rather than litigation, potentially accelerating code compliance.
  • Increases administrative authority; municipalities may incur upfront remediation costs but can assess costs/fees against violators (subject to statutory limits).
  • Raises due-process and administrative-law considerations (training, appeals, scope of municipal remediation actions) that municipalities and affected parties may challenge or seek procedural safeguards for in practice.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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