IVCA Provides Updates for State Legislative Issues – 05/27/2026

IVCA Illinois Legislative Report
David Stricklin , IVCA Legislative Liaison , Stricklin & Associates

* ICYMI: How the Illinois Senate’s housing proposals compare to Gov. JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan. Capitol News Illinois…

- With just days left in the spring legislative session, Illinois Senate Democrats unveiled an eight-bill housing package incorporating tweaked elements of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Building Up Illinois Developments, or BUILD, plan and a slew of progressive initiatives.
- All the bills in the Senate package passed out of the Senate Executive Committee Tuesday evening, though many faced tough questioning from lawmakers in both parties and acknowledgements from bill sponsors that amendments would likely be forthcoming.
- The IML is opposed to the two Senate BUILD bills as well as Feigenholtz’s faith-based housing bill. It supports Stadelman’s bill cracking down on broker’s fees and is neutral on the remaining four bills.
- The Illinois REALTORS — Pritzker’s top ally on the BUILD initiative — is opposed to the Senate package.

* Related stories…

• WAND: IL Senate Democrats push for new affordable housing plans despite growing opposition
• Press release: Illinois Senate Democrats outline housing affordability package
• Illinois Answers: A Proposed Law Would Push Wealthy Suburbs to Build More Affordable Housing. Mayors Are Pushing Back

BUDGET / BEARS 

Legislators and the Governor are also actively working on a package to address the proposed Arlington Heights location for the Chicago Bears. One top negotiator said it would was a coin flip whether it would pass or not. Negotiators are also balancing the revenue and spending proposals which go into a final budget package. There is considerable discussion around “progressive” taxes and taxing wealth in various always. IVCA always encourages policy makers to avoid doing things which make Illinois an outlier among other states or policies which would make Illinois a less attractive place to invest. 

The legislature has until midnight May 31 to pass a budget with a simple majority and will probably use every second of that time to accomplish the feat.