SPRINGFIELD – An effort to create more affordable housing for Illinois residents led by State Senators Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights), and Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) passed the Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday afternoon. 

“People are still reeling from the financial struggles brought on by the pandemic, and affordable housing is a necessity now more than ever,” Hunter said. “With many people behind on rent and struggling with unemployment, we have to have to do more to help renters.”

Senate Bill 2445 would create several monetary incentives for residential developers to create affordable housing in Illinois, including the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit, which would award credits for qualified low-income housing.

A property tax abatement would also be created for developers of newly constructed multi-family developments who agree to set aside at least 20% of their units for low-income renters in areas with low affordability.

Another property tax abatement would be given to developers of newly-constructed or rehabilitated rental property if, for a period of 10 years, at least 15% of a multifamily building's units are occupied by households with low or extremely low incomes.

Lastly, the legislation provides a sales tax exemption for the purchase of building materials used in affordable housing developments.

“We must be proactive in addressing the looming eviction crisis and building an equitable recovery,” Gillespie said. “Creating incentives in the housing market to produce affordable housing means better options and more stable lives for working and low-income families across the state.”

“The need for affordable housing across Illinois has continued to escalate as the pandemic continues,” Feigenholtz said. “The housing crisis is one of the most crucial issues we are facing in Illinois, and providing landlords with incentives to offer tenants more affordable rent is a necessary step forward.”

The measure now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett’s (D-Champaign) measure to ensure property tax relief for spouses of veterans with disabilities passed the Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday.

“This tax relief is for military families who have sacrificed so much,” Bennett said. “This measure will ensure a surviving spouse can benefit from this exemption without having to go through a repetitive process.”

Senate Bill 1691 would allow the rights of a veteran applying for a homestead exemption to pass through to his or her spouse if the veteran passes away before the application is completed.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that would make the retirement process fairer for many Illinois firefighters passed committee Wednesday.

“I introduced this measure to level the playing field for all of Illinois’ firefighters,” Ellman said. “The current law does not address a significant oversight that causes hundreds of firefighters to lose out on time they’ve served when it comes time for them to retire.”

Currently, firefighters outside of Chicago who began work after 2011 are not allowed to purchase service credit after changing employers. This measure would ensure that all firefighters, would be able to purchase service credit if they move to a new employer who is covered by a different fire pension fund.

Members of a pension system earn service credits for time they’ve worked. A purchased service credit is an additional amount of service that pension system participants can purchase-or essentially move from one pension system to another-which can be used to calculate the amount a person will receive when they retire. Many firefighters outside of Chicago can purchase credit when they switch employers, so their service at their prior employer will be factored into their retirement earnings. For example, a firefighter who moves from Peoria to Rockford might purchase their time in Peoria to move it to the Rockford system.

“We ask our firefighters to put their lives at risk day in and day out,” Ellman said. “They serve our communities to keep us safe. The least we can do is make sure they all receive the money they’ve earned and deserve when they retire.”

Senate Bill 167 passed the Illinois Senate Pensions Committee with a vote of 9-0 and now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is leading an initiative that would extend the student-assistance contribution tax credit, which passed the Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday. 

“I am proud to sponsor this initiative to help parents get a head start on saving for their children’s college expenses,” Hunter said. “Children who have a savings account are more likely to go to college, so it is important to encourage planning early.”

Senate Bill 340 extends the sunset of the student-assistance contribution tax credit from Dec. 30, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2031. Additionally, this bill provides that for taxable years on or after Dec. 31, 2021, the maximum credit should be $1,000 – rather than the current amount of $500.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to bring missing persons suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia home safely, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) moved a resolution out of the Senate State Government Committee Wednesday urging increased use of Silver Search programs. 

“Effectively using Silver Search programs can play a vital role in locating a missing loved one,” Loughran Cappel said. “It is crucial to take advantage of every resource we have at our disposal.”

SPRINGFIELD – A steadfast supporter of keeping tobacco out of the hands of children, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) passed the Preventing Youth Vaping Act through committee Wednesday.

“Vaping- and e-cigarette-related deaths and illnesses have become a nationwide outbreak that no user is immune to — no matter how young they are,” Morrison said. “We were doing so well on changing the culture of smoking, and now we have gone backward — especially the younger generation.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) joined State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), State Representative Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly Wednesday for a press conference to discuss legislation aimed at modernizing the Firearms Owner Identification card procurement process. 

“The modernization of government services is an ongoing, but necessary process,” Hastings said. “We are undertaking this initiative because of the belief that responsible gun owners should not be penalized due to those who have taken advantage of the existing system,” Hastings said. “By bringing this system into the 21st Century, we can remove burdens from law-abiding gun owners and give law enforcement the ability to hold bad actors accountable.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) released the following statement after an announcement that Kimberly-Clark, maker of trusted brands including Huggies and Kleenex, will expand its presence in Chicago with a new commercial center for its North American consumer products business:

 “The North American Commercial Center is expected to open in the Fulton Market area of Chicago, which will fall in the district I represent. I am confident that this initiative will create a massive increase in employment, while also providing an economic boost to our community.

“After a year like 2020, bringing employment opportunities to the 5^th District is crucial to the financial recovery of thousands of residents.

“Kimberly-Clark has been a hub for consumers worldwide, and I could not be happier that Chicago will get a taste of its liquidity. I commend everyone involved in this effort, and I will look forward to the center’s launch.”

The announcement was made Wednesday by Governor JB Pritzker, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and World Business Chicago.