SPRINGFIELD – Veterans and civilians in Illinois as well as older adults will be eligible for homestead exemptions without having to reapply thanks to legislation sponsored by State Senator John Connor that was signed into law Friday.

“By not requiring members of these already at-risk populations to reapply for this important tax exemption, we are helping to keep them safe from COVID-19 and other dangerous and communicable illnesses,” Connor said. “When we help keep people at home, we help keep people safe.”

Homestead exemptions can be approved for people with disabilities, veterans with disabilities and older adults without new applications under House Bill 3289. Any property that was approved for the exemption in tax year 2019 will qualify, provided that the county the property is in is declared a disaster area related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recipients of the exemption are required to reapply every year, but the pandemic resulted in a waived reapplication requirement—a trend that Connor would like to see continue, due to concerns that applicants may potentially be exposed to COVID-19 or other communicable diseases when seeking help in-person.

“It is my responsibility and my honor to be a voice in the Senate for Illinoisans who have disabilities or are high risk in other ways,” Connor said.

The law will go into effect immediately.