SB1981 creates the Property Tax Relief Act, a new state grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue. The bill is designed to provide direct property tax relief to Illinois residents whose households pay property taxes or rent that is treated as constituting property taxes. Eligible claimants must be domiciled in Illinois when filing, and for the 2025 claim year applications filed in 2026, household income must be below the state median adjusted gross income. The bill also limits eligibility to residences with an assessed market value under $350,000 and caps the annual grant at $5,000, with a formula that reduces the grant by 5% of household income and adjusts for certain public assistance received.
Impact
The bill would add a new statutory framework governing eligibility, application procedures, administration, confidentiality, fraud enforcement, and appeals for a property tax relief grant. It would give the Department of Revenue authority to verify income, residency, rent, and property tax information, require supporting documentation, issue or deny claims, and adopt implementing rules. The measure would also affect households with joint ownership, multiple residences, mobile homes, rental housing, and recipients of cash assistance from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services or the Department of Human Services, while imposing criminal penalties for fraudulent claims and unauthorized disclosure of confidential claim information.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive of tax relief for homeowners and renters facing high housing costs. The bill’s stated purpose emphasizes easing the burden of extraordinary property taxes and reducing pressure on public housing. Its structure suggests a policy goal of broad but targeted relief for lower- and middle-income households, especially those receiving public assistance.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the bill’s eligibility limits and administrative design. The income cap tied to the state median adjusted gross income, the $350,000 assessed-value ceiling, and the 5% income offset may be viewed as either appropriately targeted or too restrictive, depending on the perspective. The bill also raises questions about how grants are calculated for jointly owned property, multiple residences, rental situations, and households receiving public assistance, and it gives the Department of Revenue significant discretion to verify claims, determine fair rental value, and police fraud. No committee transcript or vote record was provided showing specific objections or support from legislators or stakeholders.
Facilitates changes to certain terms of State or federal tenant-based housing subsidy due to increase in household members, emergency conditions, and financial barriers faced by head-of-household.