Key Legislation

House Bill 1813 (Rep. Bob Rita) would preempt municipal land use authority by restricting a municipality’s ability to prohibit the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADU). As defined by the legislation, an ADU is a residential dwelling located on a lot with an existing primary residence.
The NWMC opposes House Bill 1813

House Bill 1814 (Rep. Bob Rita) would further preempt municipal zoning authority. In municipalities with a population of 25,000 or more, communities would be forced to allow the development of “middle housing” types on lots exceeding 5,000 square feet. Middle housing refers to duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, cottage clusters and townhouses.
The NWMC opposes House Bill 1814

House Bill 1429 (Rep. Kevin John Olickal) amends the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act to prohibit policies or ordinances imposing fines or criminal penalties against people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Following the clarifying federal case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, more municipalities have passed ordinances with penalties for living on public property (“camping bans”). The NWMC is opposed to the legislation in its current form.
 
House Bill 2336 (Rep. Michael J. Kelly) allows for municipalities to charge a reasonable fee for lift-assist services rendered by a fire department or public safety employee. An initiative of the Illinois Municipal League (IML), this legislation would grant non-home rule municipalities the authority to implement regulations and fees. Currently, home rule municipalities may implement regulations and fees to serve as a deterrent for lift-assist calls, and to offset expenses. However, no such authority currently exists for non-home rule municipalities. The NWMC supports House Bill 2336.
 
House Bill 2490 (Rep. Katie Stuart) creates the Firefighter Paid Family Leave Act and requires that a municipality provide a firefighter with six weeks of paid family leave for the birth or adoption of a child or to care for a family member with a serious health condition. The NWMC opposes House Bill 2490 because the bill supersedes local authority and the role of the collective bargaining process. The legislation creates a new, unfunded mandate that increases the already high financial taxpayer cost of providing public safety. The legislation is estimated to result in a cost of $25,000 - $35,000 per employee taking leave based on previous analysis. The bill layers this benefit on top of existing collectively bargained leave and the Paid Leave for All Workers Act.
 
Senate Bill 2264 (Sen. Karina Villa) places limitation on municipal crime-free housing programs and ordinances. The bill aims to constraint a community’s ability to implement a robust crime-free housing ordinance and program. While critics charge that crime-free programs are discriminatory and can hurt those seeking police assistance, Illinois already has protections in place to protect renters. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in real estate transactions and Public Act 99-441, enacted in 2015, protects victims of domestic violence and people with disabilities in relation to crime-free housing. The NWMC supports a community’s right to implement a crime-free housing program. The NWMC opposes Senate Bill 2264.