Real Estate Law

(Van Pelt, D-Chicago) seals eviction proceedings and remain so unless a final order of eviction in favor of the plaintiff is entered. The unsealed records must remain unsealed for a period of seven years. After seven years, access to the court records may be obtained only by specified parties. If a case is filed by a board of managers of a condominium association and names or joins a tenant of a condominium unit to the proceedings, the tenant’s name must be permanently suppressed by order of the court. It has been assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee.

(Jones, D-Chicago) provides that the Cook County associate judgeships existing on the effective date are converted into resident judgeships. Requires that the Supreme Court allot the resident judgeships for election from the 15 subcircuits. Referred to the Committee on Assignments. 

(Martwick, D-Chicago) amends the Circuit Courts Act to provide that in 2021 the General Assembly must redraw the boundaries of the subcircuits of the Circuit of Cook County to reflect the results of the 2020 federal decennial census. A resident judgeship assigned to a subcircuit will continue to be assigned to that subcircuit. Any vacancy in a resident judgeship existing on or occurring after the effective date of a law redrawing the boundaries of the subcircuits must be filled by a resident of the redrawn subcircuit. Assigned to House Executive Committee. 

(Mulroe, D-Chicago) amends the Code of Civil Procedure to provide that the failure to send a copy of the notice of foreclosure to the alderman or to file an affidavit as required results in a fine of $500 payable to the ward in which the property is located. Under current law, it results in the dismissal without prejudice of the complaint or counterclaim on a motion of a party or the court. It also deletes language regarding the requirements a party must comply with if the party refiles the complaint or counterclaim. Senate Bill 169 has been referred to the Committee on Assignments before being assigned to a substantive committee. 
 

(Murphy, D-Des Plaines) must first provide the unit owner a minimum of 20 days' written notice and an opportunity to be heard before the board may levy a fine. It also requires that the written notice must be made in compliance with the Act. The notice and opportunity to be heard requirements apply only to the ability to levy fines, and nothing contained in the new provisions limits or restricts the ability of the board to pursue or enforce the rights of the association. Provides that the association has no authority to report adverse information to a credit reporting agency or initiate collection proceedings against a unit owner for unpaid fines unless the board of managers has first complied with the notice and hearing requirements. Senate Bill 220 has been referred to the Committee on Assignments before being sent to a substantive Senate committee. 

(Martwick, D-Chicago) allows a taxing body or its representative to file a vacancy-fraud complaint with the county board of review if the property is receiving vacancy relief and the property owner is not actively attempting to lease, sell, or alter the property. It sets forth factors in determining whether vacancy fraud has occurred and its penalties. House Bill 832 was just introduced.