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HB4896 • 2026
CIV PRO-TENANTS IN COMMON
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
CIV PRO-TENANTS IN COMMON
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4896 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience.
Plain English: Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4896 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience.
Governor Approved
Effective Date January 1, 2027
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0506
Sent to the Governor
Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000
Passed Both Houses
Second Reading
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 5, 2026
Approved for Consideration Assignments
Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 29, 2026
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Dave Vella
Arrive in Senate
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick
First Reading
Referred to Assignments
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 105-000-000
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee ; 018-000-000
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
Second Reading - Short Debate
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary - Civil Committee ; by Voice Vote
Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee ; 013-007-000
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
CIV PRO-TENANTS IN COMMON
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4896 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein. Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet. The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website. NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window. 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Full Text of HB4896 Home Legislation Full Text HB4896 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Enrolled House Amendment 001 House Amendment 002 Public Act Printer Friendly Version Introduced Engrossed Enrolled House Amendment 001 House Amendment 002 Public Act Open PDF HB4896 Enrolled LRB104 17427 JRC 30852 b 1 AN ACT concerning civil law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by 5 adding Section 13-109.2 as follows: 6 (735 ILCS 5/13-109.2 new) 7 Sec. 13-109.2. Tenancy in common, intestate succession. 8 (a) A person or persons with an ownership interest in 9 lands or tenements held as tenants in common, who acquired an 10 ownership interest through intestate succession under Article 11 2 of the Probate Act of 1975, and who are in actual possession 12 of the lands or tenements, may commence an action seeking to be 13 adjudged the legal owner or owners of the lands or tenements to 14 the exclusion of any nonclaiming owner or owners, if the court 15 finds that: 16 (1) the person or persons bringing the action each 17 have a household income of under 80% of area median income 18 as determined by the United States Department of Housing 19 and Urban Development for the county where the lands or 20 tenements are located; 21 (2) the person or persons bringing the action have 22 conducted a search, with due diligence, for anyone who may 23 have an ownership interest in the property; HB4896 Enrolled - 2 - LRB104 17427 JRC 30852 b 1 (3) for 7 successive years, the person or persons 2 bringing the action have: 3 (A) held exclusive possession of the lands or 4 tenements, with or without the permission or knowledge 5 of others who may hold an interest in the lands or 6 tenements as tenants in common; 7 (B) paid or caused to be paid all taxes legally 8 assessed on the lands or tenements; and 9 (C) acquired an ownership interest in the lands or 10 tenements through intestate succession; and 11 (4) for 7 successive years, no other person or persons 12 holding an ownership interest in the lands or tenements as 13 tenants in common have: 14 (A) contributed to any taxes assessed on the lands 15 or tenements, other than a lender under the 16 Residential Mortgage License Act of 1987 making 17 payments of taxes as part of its duties related to a 18 mortgage loan; 19 (B) contributed to the care, maintenance, or 20 improvement of the lands or tenements; or 21 (C) asserted or acted to preserve any interest in 22 or any claim related to the lands or tenements; and 23 (5) the requirements of subsection (b) are satisfied 24 and no objection is made by a person or persons with a bona 25 fide ownership interest in the subject lands or tenements 26 as tenants in common as set forth under subsection (c). HB4896 Enrolled - 3 - LRB104 17427 JRC 30852 b 1 (b) A minimum of 2 years before commencing an action under 2 subsection (a), a person or persons shall: 3 (1) file a signed declaration with the recorder of 4 deeds in the county where the lands or tenements are 5 located that provides a legal description of the subject 6 lands or tenements and states the person's or persons': 7 (A) intention to seek ownership of lands or 8 tenements to the exclusion of any nonclaiming owner or 9 owners; 10 (B) ownership interest in the lands or tenements 11 as tenants in common; 12 (C) exclusive possession of the property and 13 consistent payment of all taxes legally assessed on 14 the lands or tenements; and 15 (D) belief that no other person or persons with an 16 ownership interest in the lands or tenements have 17 contributed to the payment of taxes or the care, 18 maintenance, or improvement of the lands or tenements; 19 and 20 (2) send written notice after conducting the search 21 described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to any person 22 or persons who hold an ownership interest in the lands or 23 tenements by certified and first-class mail to their last 24 known address that includes: 25 (A) a statement of intention to seek ownership of 26 lands or tenements to the exclusion of any nonclaiming HB4896 Enrolled - 4 - LRB104 17427 JRC 30852 b 1 owner or owners, including the address or a 2 description of the lands or tenements; 3 (B) a notification that the person or persons with 4 an ownership interest in the lands or tenements may 5 file an objection with the recorder of deeds in the 6 county where the lands or tenements are located as set 7 forth in subsection (c); and 8 (C) an attached copy of the declaration described 9 in paragraph (1); and 10 (3) send a message after conducting the search 11 described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) to any person 12 or persons who hold an ownership interest in the lands or 13 tenements by email at their last known email address, if 14 any, and by text at their last known telephone number, if 15 any, that includes: 16 (A) a statement of intention to seek ownership of 17 lands or tenements to the exclusion of any nonclaiming 18 owner or owners, including the address or a 19 description of the lands or tenements; and 20 (B) a notification that the person or persons with 21 an ownership interest in the lands or tenements may 22 file an objection with the recorder of deeds in the 23 county where the lands or tenements are located as set 24 forth in subsection (c); and 25 (4) publish or cause to be published one notice of the 26 claim under the Notice by Publication Act in a newspaper HB4896 Enrolled - 5 - LRB104 17427 JRC 30852 b 1 of general circulation covering the county, city, or 2 township where the lands or tenements are located. 3 (c) A person or persons with an ownership interest in the 4 lands or tenements may object to a claim under this Section by 5 filing an objection with the recorder of deeds in the county 6 where the lands or tenements are located. The objection shall: 7 (1) be signed by the person or persons objecting; 8 (2) describe the subject lands or tenements; 9 (3) state that the objecting person or persons have an 10 ownership interest in the subject lands or tenements; and 11 (4) declare their objection. Footer Disclaimer This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. Read About Cookies ILGA.GOV 2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved | ADA | Disclaimers | Learn This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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