Bill
HB 3253
HB 3253 requires impact statements for any bill creating or changing homestead exemptions, starting July 1, 2026, to show policy, demographics, and fiscal effects.
Status summary
- Bill number: HB 3253 (companion: SB 1471)
- Introduced: February 18–24, 2025 (filed by Rep. Mary Beth Canty)
- Current status (as of May 2025): Reported favorably from committee, placed on the General State Calendar (May 13, 2025). Multiple co‑sponsors added.
- Effective date: Provisions are generally effective immediately, except a new procedural requirement for legislative bills affecting homestead exemptions takes effect July 1, 2026.
Purpose / intent
HB 3253 updates several provisions of Illinois property tax law to (1) require an impact statement for bills that create or amend homestead exemptions, (2) change income limits and indexing for a senior homestead assessment‑freeze exemption, (3) authorize county‑administered payment plans for certain tax certificates, and (4) amend the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act (income limits).
Key provisions
1. Homestead exemption impact statement (35 ILCS 200/15‑163 — NEW)
- Beginning July 1, 2026, any bill that creates or amends a homestead exemption must be accompanied by an impact statement prepared by the bill sponsor before the first legislative vote.
- The statement must identify: the policy purpose and affected demographics; effects on taxing districts (including differential impacts across communities/counties/townships); and optional funding sources taxing districts could consider to offset any increased burden.
Low‑Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15‑172 — amended)
County payment plans for tax certificates (amendment to 320 ILCS 30/2 and 30/3)
Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act (35 ILCS 200/21‑385 — amended)
Who is affected
- Low‑income and senior homeowners: expands or preserves eligibility (notably a higher income cap for the Low‑Income Senior Citizens freeze exemption).
- Taxing districts (counties, municipalities, school districts, townships): may experience changes in taxable base and revenue timing; the impact‑statement requirement is designed to surface those effects.
- County clerks and counties holding tax certificates: gain authority to offer payment plans for redemption, potentially affecting cash flows and collections.
- Legislators and bill sponsors: required to prepare and submit impact statements for homestead exemption bills beginning July 1, 2026.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Increasing the income threshold (and indexing it) likely expands eligibility for the assessment‑freeze exemption, reducing property tax liabilities for more senior households and increasing revenue pressure on taxing districts unless offsets are identified.
- The impact statement requirement increases legislative transparency and may slow or alter consideration of homestead exemption measures by requiring fiscal and demographic analysis up front.
- County‑administered payment plans could reduce foreclosures or loss of property by allowing redemption flexibility, but may require administrative capacity and affect timing of tax revenues to districts.
Sections amended/added
- Adds: 35 ILCS 200/15‑163 (new)
- Amends: 35 ILCS 200/15‑172; 35 ILCS 200/21‑385; 320 ILCS 30/2 and 30/3
Sponsors and procedural notes
- Primary sponsor: Rep. Mary Beth Canty. Multiple co‑sponsors including Reps. Diane Blair‑Sherlock, Lilian Jiménez, Camille Y. Lilly, Dagmara Avelar, and others.
- Key recent actions: referred to Revenue & Finance Committee and a Property Tax subcommittee; reported favorably without amendment; placed on General State Calendar (May 13, 2025).
For more detail
- Full bill text and the companion SB 1471 contain the precise statutory amendments and any additional numeric or technical changes referenced in the act.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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