McHenry Times

Suzanne M. Ness introduced HB1843 in the Illinois House on Jan. 28, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Zoning Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Removes a provision giving the corporate authorities in each municipality the power to classify, to regulate, and to restrict the use of property on the basis of family relationship. Provides that the powers enumerated in provisions relating to zoning powers of a municipality may not be used in any way that violates or otherwise contradicts any other applicable State or federal law, including the federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prohibits a municipality from adopting zoning regulations that prohibit 2 or more individuals who are not related by blood from living together in the same residence. Provides that a municipality may not adopt zoning regulations that prohibit the creation of a community-integrated living arrangement or housing for a community-integrated living arrangement. Limits home rule powers."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Illinois Municipal Code to enhance zoning powers granted to municipalities, including regulating building height and bulk, establishing building or set-back lines, and restricting land use based on family relationships. It addresses the conservation of property values, minimizing congestion, and promoting public welfare while preserving historical and architectural sites. Municipalities can incentivize developers for affordable housing and regulate solar energy access. The bill prohibits zoning laws that impede community-integrated living arrangements and requires telecommunication companies to notify nearby property owners before new facility construction. Municipalities cannot exercise zoning powers outside corporate limits if county zoning laws exist. These powers do not extend to certain home rule municipalities unless aligned with state regulations, maintaining a limit on concurrent municipal-state authority. The bill has specific applicability to non-home rule municipalities, ensuring compliance with broader federal and state laws.

Suzanne M. Ness has proposed another 11 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Ness graduated from Arizona State University in 1999 with a BS.

Suzanne M. Ness is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 66th House District. She replaced previous state representative Allen Skillicorn in 2021.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1843	01/28/2025	Amends the Zoning Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Removes a provision giving the corporate authorities in each municipality the power to classify, to regulate, and to restrict the use of property on the basis of family relationship. Provides that the powers enumerated in provisions relating to zoning powers of a municipality may not be used in any way that violates or otherwise contradicts any other applicable State or federal law, including the federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prohibits a municipality from adopting zoning regulations that prohibit 2 or more individuals who are not related by blood from living together in the same residence. Provides that a municipality may not adopt zoning regulations that prohibit the creation of a community-integrated living arrangement or housing for a community-integrated living arrangement. Limits home rule powers.
HB1604	01/23/2025	Amends the Limited Liability Company Act. Provides that, for the 5 years immediately following the formation of a limited liability company, if that limited liability company has a gross annual revenue of less than $1,000,000, the fee for filing an annual report shall be waived for that year.
HB1449	01/21/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Requires the county board in counties with a population of more than 100,000 to hire a county administrator. Provides that the county administrator shall advise, assist, act as agent for, and be responsible to the county board for the proper and efficient administration of the county.
HB1432	01/17/2025	Amends the State Treasurer Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Treasurer may make a matching contribution of $50 to an ABLE account opened on or after January 1, 2026 for a beneficiary who is a resident of Illinois. Provides that the matching contribution shall be limited to one contribution per beneficiary and shall not be treated differently from any other contributions to the account. Provides that if there are insufficient funds available, the State Treasurer may reduce the matching contribution amount or forgo contributions. Provides that the Illinois ABLE Matching Contribution Fund shall be the official repository of all contributions, appropriated funds, interest, and dividend payments, gifts, or other financial assets received by the State Treasurer in connection with matching contributions to ABLE accounts. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Illinois ABLE Matching Contribution Fund.
HB1369	01/15/2025	Creates the Caring for Caregivers Act. Provides that a taxpayer who is a family caregiver and who incurs eligible expenditures during the taxable year for the care and support of an eligible family member may apply to the Department of Revenue for an income tax credit. Provides that the credit shall be equal to 50% of the eligible expenditures incurred during the taxable year by the family caregiver for the care and support of an eligible family member, subject to certain specified limitations. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB1313	01/14/2025	Creates the Illinois Election Integrity Act. Amends the Election Code. Requires that each election authority (i) conduct an election day audit of a random sample of 10% of votes cast and (ii) provide by contract or employment for the performance by one or more independent auditors of post-election parallel tabulations and audits. Provides for the scope of the audits and the resulting reports. Requires that optical scan technology and direct recording electronic voting systems meet certain federal and independent testing standards. Creates a voluntary tax checkoff for the Fund. With respect to early voting, requires that an election authority using only direct recording electronic voting systems have paper ballots available for voters wishing to use them. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Election Integrity Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.
HB1314	01/14/2025	Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. In provisions requiring governmental entities to adopt ordinances or resolutions regulating specified ethical concerns, provides that a governmental entity may create an ethics commission to satisfy the requirements.
HB1329	01/14/2025	Amends the Co-Responder Pilot Program Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds the McHenry County Sheriff's Office to the offices to which the Division is applicable and requires the Office to establish a co-responder unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act and hire specified personnel. Makes conforming changes, including in the Counties Code. Provides that, along with the duties described elsewhere in the Division, the unit's social workers are responsible for following up with victims (rather than conducting follow-up visits for victims) who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services.
HB1311	01/13/2025	Amends the Employee Classification Act. Provides that in making a determination of a worker's classification under this Act, the Department of Labor shall consider any guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury.
HB1144	01/09/2025	Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act and the Condominium Property Act. Provides that associations may establish and maintain a system of master metering of public utility services to collect related payments subject to the Residential Property Utility Service Act. Repeals the Tenant Utility Payment Disclosure Act and adds the provisions of the repealed Act to the Residential Property Utility Service Act. Amends the Rental Property Utility Service Act. Provides that a municipality may request a copy in writing of the formula used by the landlord, condominium, or common interest community association for allocating public utility payments among the unit owners. The landlord or condominium or common interest community association shall respond within 30 calendar days of receiving the municipality's request. Prohibits treble damages from being awarded to tenants under the Residential Property Utility Service Act for violations of the amendatory Act.
HB1145	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer who employs a person with a developmental disability or a severe mental illness, as certified by the Department of Human Services, during the taxable year is entitled to an income tax credit in an amount equal to 25% of the wages paid by the taxpayer to the person with a developmental disability or severe mental illness, but not to exceed $6,000 in wages paid during the taxable year to any single qualified employee. Effective immediately.
HB1146	01/09/2025	Amends the Solid Waste Planning and Recycling Act. Provides that, beginning 18 months after the amendatory Act's effective date, (1) no store or food service business shall provide or sell a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer and (2) no grocery store shall provide or sell a single-use paper carryout bag to a customer. Preempts home rule powers. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.