(35 ILCS 250/1)

Sec. 1.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Longtime Owner‑Occupant Property Tax Relief Act.

(Source: P.A. 88‑451.)

(35 ILCS 250/10)

Sec. 10.

Definitions.

As used in this Act, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) "Longtime owner‑occupant" means a person who for at least 10 continuous years has owned and has occupied the same dwelling place as a principal residence and domicile, or any person who for at least 5 years has owned and occupied the same dwelling place as a principal residence and domicile if that person received assistance in the acquisition of the property as part of a government or nonprofit housing program.

(b) "Principal residence" means the dwelling place of a person, including the principal house and lot, and such lots as are used in connection with the principal house and lot that contribute to its enjoyment, comfort and convenience. For purposes of this Act, the term may also include a building with a maximum of one commercial establishment and a maximum of 3 residential units of which one residential unit must be the principal residence of the longtime owner‑occupant.

(Source: P.A. 88‑451.)

(35 ILCS 250/15)

Sec. 15.

Deferral or exemption authority.

(a) The corporate authorities of a county shall have the power to provide, by ordinance or resolution, for uniform special real property tax relief provisions granting longtime owner‑occupants a deferral or exemption, or combination thereof, in the payment of that portion of an increase of real property taxes which is due to an increase in the market value of the real property as a consequence of the refurbishing or renovating of other residences or the construction of new residences in long‑established residential areas or areas of deteriorated, vacant or abandoned homes and properties. A deferral or exemption, or combination thereof, may be granted until the longtime owner‑occupant transfers title to the property.

The ordinance or resolution must include a provision requiring that eligibility notification of the special real property tax relief be delivered to the record owner of the property taxed. The eligibility notification shall be mailed to the address of the record owner on file with the county. If the notification is mailed by the county to a mortgagee because it is the only address of the record owner filed with the county, then the mortgagee shall, within 30 days of receipt, forward a copy of the notice to each mortgagor of the property. There shall be no liability for the failure of the mortgagee to forward the notice to each mortgagor.

(b) The corporate authority of a county is authorized to enact ordinances or resolutions that provide for the designation of areas eligible for the special real property tax relief provisions under this Act. Before enacting an ordinance or resolution that proposes designating such an area, the corporate authorities shall conduct a public hearing on the proposed ordinance or resolution.

(c) School districts and municipalities within a county have authority to determine their participation in the program of special real property tax relief within their taxing jurisdictions. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to municipalities and school districts included under subsection (d) of this Section.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, if the corporate authority of a county with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants enacts an ordinance or resolution in accordance with subsection (c), a municipality having a population exceeding 500,000 within that county and a school district in a municipality having a population exceeding 500,000 within that county must participate in the program of special property tax relief within their taxing jurisdiction. This subsection is a denial and limitation of home rule powers and functions under subsection (g) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(Source: P.A. 90‑648, eff. 7‑24‑98; 91‑894, eff. 1‑1‑01.)

(35 ILCS 250/20)

Sec. 20.

Conditions of deferral or exemption.

(a) Any deferral or exemption of payment of an increase in real property taxes granted under this Act shall be limited to real property that meets both of the following conditions:

(1) The property is owned and occupied by a longtime

owner‑occupant.

(2) The property is the principal residence and

domicile of the longtime owner‑occupant.

The corporate authorities of a county, by ordinance or resolution, may impose additional criteria for qualifying for a deferral or exemption under this Act including, but not limited to, (i) requiring the owner‑occupant to have owned and occupied the same dwelling place as principal residence and domicile for a period of more than 10 years, (ii) establishing age criteria for eligibility of an owner‑occupant, and (iii) establishing income criteria for eligibility of an owner‑occupant. A deferral or exemption, or combination thereof, under an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this Act, may not exceed $20,000 in equalized assessed value per tax year.

(b) No penalties or interest shall accrue on the portion of any deferral granted under this Act.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of Section 15, school districts and municipalities within a county to which this Act applies may determine whether financial need, age, or both, of the longtime owner‑occupant shall be used to determine eligibility.

(Source: P.A. 93‑715, eff. 7‑12‑04.)

35 ILCS 250/25

(35 ILCS 250/25)

Sec. 25.

Retroactive application.

The corporate authorities of a county to which this Act applies may use any county record or other information that predates the effective date of this Act by up to 5 years for the purpose of determining whether an increase in the market value of a longtime owner‑occupant's principal residence is a consequence of the refurbishing or renovating of other residences or the construction of new residences in long‑established residential areas or areas of deteriorated, vacant, or abandoned homes and properties.

(Source: P.A. 88‑451.)

(35 ILCS 250/30)

Sec. 30.

(Amendatory provisions; text omitted).

(Source: P.A. 88‑451; text omitted.)

(35 ILCS 250/5)

Sec. 5.

Public policy.

In recognition of the severe economic circumstances of certain longtime owner‑occupants of residences who are faced with rising living costs and constantly increasing tax burdens in areas where real property values have risen markedly as a consequence of the renovation of other deteriorating residences or the construction of new residences, the General Assembly considers it to be a matter of sound public policy for counties having a population of 100,000 or more to adopt uniform special real property tax relief provisions in order to allow longtime owner‑occupants of residences to remain in peaceful possession of their homes.

(Source: P.A. 88‑451.)

(35 ILCS 250/99)

Sec. 99.

This Act takes effect upon becoming law.

(Source: P.A. 88‑451.)