Policy
New Law to Help Senior Homeowners:
Income Eligibility Threshold Increase for the Senior Freeze Homestead Exemption.
During the 2024 veto session, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation that expands property tax relief for senior homeowners in Cook County by raising the income eligibility threshold for the Senior Freeze homestead exemption.
The current income threshold is $65,000 and will increase to $75,000 in Tax Year 2026, with the change reflected on bills issued in 2027. This amount will increase to $77,000 in 2028 and, finally, to $79,000 in 2029. The income threshold will increase to $79,000 in Tax Year 2029.
Proposed Legislation to Provide Property Tax Relief:
House Bill 1829: Better Data on Physical Descriptions Means Fairer Assessments and More Accurate Property Tax Bills
What does it do?
HB 1829 improves the accuracy of property tax assessments for large, income-producing commercial properties by updating basic physical property data like rentable square footage, parking capacity, and warehouse features. It also protects any voluntarily submitted financial records from public disclosure under FOIA, encouraging cooperation without mandating reporting.
Why is it good?
Inaccurate or outdated data leads to assessment errors, costly appeals, and unfair tax burdens. By ensuring assessments are based on current, reliable information, the bill makes property tax bills more accurate and predictable. Fairer commercial assessments help prevent homeowners from subsidizing under-assessed commercial properties
Who does it help?
→ Homeowners and renters by promoting fairness in the property tax system
→ Local governments through more accurate assessments
→ No reporting requirements are no placed on homeowners, or on smaller (two- to six-unit) apartment buildings
House Bill 3808: Property Tax Circuit Breaker for Homeowners | Chief Sponsor: Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-27)
What is a property tax circuit breaker?
A circuit breaker is a property tax relief program that works like an electrical circuit breaker: when taxes rise beyond an affordable level relative to a homeowner’s income or past bills, the program “trips” and provides relief. Circuit breakers are designed to protect homeowners from sudden tax shocks, especially seniors and middle-income families, and are already used in 29 states (and the District of Columbia).
What does it do?
HB 3808 establishes a targeted property tax relief program for homeowners who experience large tax bill spikes. The bill would provide relief directly on the second installment property tax bill for eligible homeowners, prioritizing those with significant bill increases and moderate household incomes. Relief would be delivered automatically through coordination with the Illinois Department of Revenue, rather than through rebates or checks.
Why is it good?
This bill focuses on helping homeowners facing sudden, unaffordable tax increases—rather than providing broad exemptions that can weaken local tax bases. By delivering relief directly on the tax bill, it provides immediate help, avoids creating taxable income, and includes guardrails to prevent taxing districts from unnecessarily raising levies. It is a more precise and equitable solution than expanding homestead exemptions
Who does it help?
→ Homeowners facing sudden property tax increases that threaten their ability to stay in their homes, especially in communities that have seen major tax bill spikes.
House Bill 2536: “Senior Freeze” Auto-Renewal | Chief House Sponsor: Representative Fred Crespo (D-44)
What does it do?
HB 2536 allows the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (“Senior Freeze”) to automatically renew for eligible seniors. By using existing income data through coordination with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Cook County Assessor’s Office can verify eligibility without requiring seniors to reapply every year.
Why is it good?
Annual paperwork requirements often cause eligible seniors to lose critical tax relief simply because they miss a deadline or struggle with the application process. Auto-renewal ensures seniors continue receiving the exemption they qualify for, reduces administrative burdens, and builds on a proven model that has already helped over 200,000 seniors keep their homes.
Who does it help?
→ Low-income seniors living on fixed incomes