SPRINGFIELD — As the nation grapples with a growing housing affordability crisis, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus stood together during a press conference Tuesday to outline their package of proposals aimed at making renting and owning a home more affordable, fair and accessible for working families across the state.
As the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development takes steps to slash funding for affordable housing and propose strict work requirements and time limits for people who rely on housing assistance, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is fighting to make sure Illinois does not turn its back on those who are already struggling under Senate Bill 608.
The measure would clearly establish that housing authorities and private owners of subsidized housing in Illinois can’t mandate work requirements or place time limits on residents. According to Housing Action Illinois, more than 200,000 households in Illinois participate in the Section 8 program – most of whom are older adults, families with children and people with disabilities.
“Cost of living is on the rise and now the Trump administration is working to make it harder for residents to access affordable, quality housing options by imposing work requirements and time limits for those participating in federal housing assistance programs,” said Villivalam. “We must stand up for our neighbors and ensure their ability to live and thrive in our neighborhoods, not make them work extra just to sleep somewhere at night.”
Recognizing the need to accelerate homebuilding, particularly in marginalized communities, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is leading sweeping legislation that aims to legalize a wider range of housing types in established neighborhoods, helping to lower housing costs, reduce displacement and create more equitable communities throughout the state. Hunter’s Senate Bill 640 would reform exclusionary zoning laws by requiring municipalities to allow middle housing – moderately scaled residential buildings like duplexes, townhouses and cottage clusters – on any lot currently zoned for single-family use.
“Underserved communities across Illinois have been bearing the weight of the housing crisis for years," said Hunter. “This measure gives us the tools to build more housing in more places – and to do it in a way that is fair, transparent and enforceable.”
A healthy housing market depends on clear, predictable rules across jurisdictions, leading State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) to champion Senate Bill 643. This proposal would create transparent and uniform standards for plan review, permit issuance and inspection deadlines to help Illinois families and builders navigate the homebuilding process with ease.
“Affordable housing is a growing challenge across Illinois, and too many young people, families and seniors are struggling to find homes they can afford. Despite the demand for affordable housing, the market has not adequately responded. Supply and demand is not working and action is needed,” said Ellman. “This bill is about reducing unnecessary delays and helping communities responsibly expand housing opportunities. I want to be clear that this is not about taking away municipal authority but striking the right balance between efficiency and local decision-making.”
Faith-based organizations often own underutilized property that could be used to expand the supply of affordable housing – yet many face challenges to leveraging that property, including limited financing options and regulatory barriers, leading State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) to spearhead a plan to help streamline this process. Senate Bill 635 would empower faith-based organizations with a clear path to develop affordable, mixed-use and multifamily developments on their land by exempting them from strict zoning requirements that currently stand in the way.
“Homeowners and renters are counting on us to take action to keep their homes and communities affordable,” said Feigenholtz. “Modernizing outdated building codes and giving congregations new tools to preserve housing are significant steps we can take to address the affordable housing crisis people are facing right now.”
With such little wiggle room in a highly competitive market, lawmakers are exploring ways to make sure longtime residents can stay in their homes and communities if their building is put up for sale. Under Senate Bill 332, sponsored by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago), tenants in Illinois would have the right of first refusal when residential property is put up for sale, enabling them to organize to purchase their building before it can be sold to outside investors.
“We want to empower residents with the opportunity to buy their home outright when the sale of a building occurs,” said Simmons. “This process would help facilitate resident ownership by preventing outside investors like private equity firms from absorbing properties before tenants have the chance.”
To place guardrails on the growing role out-of-state companies and private equity firms play in Illinois’ housing market, State Senator Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) is working to pass Senate Bill 331. Her proposal would establish a fee on private equity firms’ speculative purchases of existing housing – a practice that often turns residential properties into high-profit investment assets while families struggle to find affordable places to live.
“As working families struggle to find affordable homes and rising demand continues to drive up prices, we have a responsibility to preserve our existing housing supply for people, not large corporate investors,” said Ventura. “Unchecked investor activity is pricing Illinoisans out of their own neighborhoods, and we need clear guardrails to restore balance.”
The Trump administration’s actions are worsening the fair and affordable housing crisis, increasing costs for the average buyer and rolling back established housing rights. In Illinois, lawmakers understand working families deserve essential protections – leading State Senator Graciela Guzmán (D-Chicago) to introduce Senate Bill 330. The measure would bolster protections for Illinoisans by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of someone’s real or perceived experience as a survivor of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence during any real estate transaction.
“Illinois must not tolerate any discrimination against survivors,” said Guzmán. “Housing is a right that must be guaranteed to all people. As someone who has lived through domestic violence, I know how hard it is to rebuild when everything has been taken away from you; safety, stability and a sense of home. To be denied housing because of that past is not only unjust, but deeply dehumanizing. Survivors deserve dignity, protection and a real chance to start over. Illinois should recognize this harm for what it is and refuse to allow it.”
As rent skyrockets, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is working to make sure rental fees don’t make scarce housing options even less affordable. Senate Bill 329 would protect tenants from being required to engage with a particular agent in order to rent property and would ensure salespeople and brokers don’t charge tenants fees for performing services at the direction of a landlord or property owner.
“Renters shouldn’t have to pay extra just to secure a place to live. This measure will end the unfair practice of landlords passing broker fees onto tenants, making housing more accessible and equitable,” said Stadelman. “This bill promotes fairness and transparency, helping renters and property owners alike navigate housing with confidence.”
The measures are set to be heard in the Senate Executive Committee at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.
