Plain English Breakdown
The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but the 'Last action' listed is 'Referred to Rules Committee', creating a slight ambiguity about the exact current stage versus historical passage data in this specific metadata set.
Blight Mitigation Act
This law allows neighbors living on the same street within one-fourth mile of an abandoned home to ask a court for ownership if the property has been empty and tax delinquent for at least two years.
What This Bill Does
- Creates the Blight Mitigation Act in Illinois state law.
- Allows property owners living on the same street within one-fourth mile of an abandoned home to petition a court for title to that land after it has been continuously abandoned for 12 months.
- Orders courts to transfer ownership if clear and convincing evidence shows the house is abandoned, the owner was notified in court according to rules, and the home is not listed for sale or under contract.
- Defines an 'abandoned' property as one that owes taxes for two years or more and has no legal occupants.
Who It Names or Affects
- Property owners who live on the same street within a quarter-mile of abandoned residential real estate.
- Owners of properties that have been tax delinquent for at least two years and are unoccupied by persons legally in possession.
- Courts in Illinois that must review petitions to transfer property titles.
Terms To Know
- Abandoned
- A residential property where taxes have not been paid for at least two years and no one legally lives there.
- Petition the court
- To formally ask a judge to make a legal decision, in this case about transferring ownership of land.
Limits and Unknowns
- The law does not apply if the property is currently listed on a multiple listing service, under contract for sale, or being maintained in receivership status.
- The text does not explain what happens after ownership transfers regarding repairs or new taxes.