(The Center Square) – Leaders in Illinois are suggesting a package of legislation aimed at increasing housing affordability and supply in the state may be kicked further down the road, after proposals stalled in May after disagreements between stakeholders.
The Building Up Illinois Developments housing plan, or BUILD, was recommended to the legislature by Gov. J.B. Pritzker early this year, but largely sat on the back burner during the last session of the assembly.
The plan is an extensive proposal that would make sweeping changes to zoning and regulations statewide, aimed at increasing supply, reducing overhead costs, and speeding up development timelines.
At an unrelated news conference Thursday, Pritzker said he thinks the housing legislation may be put aside again during the six-day fall veto session in November and December, in favor of waiting until the 105th General Assembly begins to reintroduce the initiative.
“It’s a short session, as you know, the veto session. So, I do believe that you’re going to see that in the coming full session starting in January,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker’s proposal was countered by the Illinois Municipal League, a group representing local governments across the state, after they were left out of meetings with the governor’s office and legislators.
The IML’s housing proposal is the Reducing Expenses and Advancing Local, or REAL, Housing Act, which aims to leave control of things like zoning to local government, rather than applying statewide.
In a statement to The Center Square, IML CEO Brad Cole said they’re still ready and willing to engage with lawmakers, but didn’t say whether there’d been discussion behind the scenes.
“Municipal officials across Illinois remain dedicated to improving housing access and affordability and believe meaningful progress can be made while preserving local decision-making,” Cole said. “We want, and continue to be ready, to work in collaboration with policy makers and other stakeholders on this vital issue.”
Despite the governor’s housing package not passing in full, Pritzker touted that lawmakers were still able to include $250 million in the current budget to increase funding for existing state programs to work toward the goal.
Multiple bills in the BUILD proposal would have to be re-introduced and go through the legislative process again in January if not passed sooner.
Pritzker said he remains committed to his end goal with the legislation.
“I’m dedicated to expanding housing opportunities for everybody in the state, making sure that we’re building, because as you know, we’re a couple of hundred thousand homes behind at least if we want to reach our goal by 2030,” Pritzker said.
The General Assembly returns to Springfield for its six-day veto session between Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.
