McHenry Times

Steven Reick introduced HB3690 in the Illinois House on Feb. 7, 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 Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning tax sales, provides that, for tax certificates sold after January 1, 2026, the accrued interest penalty is 0.75% of the certificate amount per month in counties with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants and 1.25% of the certificate amount per month in counties with 3,000,000 inhabitants or less. Makes conforming changes. Changes a fee to $350 (instead of $35) if a petition for tax deed has been filed and a fee to $40 (instead of $4) if a specified notice has been filed. Provides that, for any tax sale, either the collector shall employ an automated bidding system that is programmed to accept the winning bidder at random (instead of the lowest redemption price bid by an eligible tax purchaser, subject to certain limitations) or all tax sales shall be digitally recorded with video and audio. Provides that each county collector in a county with 100,000 (instead of 275,000) or more inhabitants shall adopt a single bidder rule sufficient to prohibit a tax purchaser from registering more than one related bidding entity at the tax sale."

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

In essence, this bill amends provisions of the Property Tax Code in Illinois, particularly concerning tax sales. For tax certificates sold after Jan. 1, 2026, the accrued interest penalty will be 0.75% per month in counties with more than 3 million inhabitants and 1.25% per month in counties with fewer inhabitants. It raises certain fees related to tax deeds and notices, and mandates that any tax sale must either use an automated bidding system or be recorded with video and audio. Additionally, each county collector in counties with at least 100,000 inhabitants must adopt a rule preventing tax purchasers from registering more than one related bidding entity at tax sales. The bill also includes provisions related to redemption amounts and procedures following a tax sale.

Steven Reick has proposed another 14 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Reick graduated from the University of Illinois in 1975 and again in 1980 from University of Georgia with a JD.

Steven Reick is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 63rd House District. He replaced previous state representative Jack D. Franks in 2017.

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
HB3690	02/07/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning tax sales, provides that, for tax certificates sold after January 1, 2026, the accrued interest penalty is 0.75% of the certificate amount per month in counties with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants and 1.25% of the certificate amount per month in counties with 3,000,000 inhabitants or less. Makes conforming changes. Changes a fee to $350 (instead of $35) if a petition for tax deed has been filed and a fee to $40 (instead of $4) if a specified notice has been filed. Provides that, for any tax sale, either the collector shall employ an automated bidding system that is programmed to accept the winning bidder at random (instead of the lowest redemption price bid by an eligible tax purchaser, subject to certain limitations) or all tax sales shall be digitally recorded with video and audio. Provides that each county collector in a county with 100,000 (instead of 275,000) or more inhabitants shall adopt a single bidder rule sufficient to prohibit a tax purchaser from registering more than one related bidding entity at the tax sale.
HB3212	02/06/2025	Creates the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act. Makes legislative findings. Defines terms. Authorizes a local public entity to initiate a neutral evaluation process if that entity is unable to meet its financial obligations. Provides for the selection and qualification of an evaluator, the evaluation process, cessation of an evaluation, declaration of a fiscal emergency, and definition of liabilities. Provides that records prepared for or used in connection with the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act are exempt from disclosure. Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that a public body may hold closed meetings related to the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB2733	02/05/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to appropriation and any necessary federal waivers or approvals, the Department of Human Services shall develop and implement a transitional benefits program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that is designed in such a way that a TANF or SNAP beneficiary will not experience an immediate loss of benefits should the beneficiary's income exceed the maximum allowable income under the TANF or SNAP program. Provides that the transitional benefits offered shall gradually step down the beneficiary's monthly benefit proportionate to the increase in the beneficiary's income. Sets forth monthly benefits amounts based on monthly household income. Requires beneficiaries to comply with TANF and SNAP work requirements. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department shall implement, by July 1, 2026, a program to allow recipients to receive transitional child care benefits without the requirement that such recipients first be eligible for full child care benefits. Provides that transitional child care benefits shall be determined on a sliding scale for recipients with household incomes in excess of the eligibility level for full benefits. Sets forth the sliding benefit schedule for the program. Requires the Department to track the number of participants in the program and issue an annual report to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027 and by September 1 each year thereafter, detailing the effectiveness of the program in encouraging recipients to secure employment earning an income greater than the maximum wage eligible for the full child care benefit. Requires the Department to pursue all necessary waivers from the federal government to implement the program. Provides that upon federal approval, the Department shall limit any initial application for the SNAP, TANF, or the Child Care Assistance Program to a one-page form that is easily accessible on the Department's website. Provides that persons participating in TANF, SNAP, or the Child Care Assistance Program who are required to complete a periodic eligibility review form, may submit such form as an attachment to their Illinois income tax return. Requires the Department of Human Services and the Department of Revenue to adopt rules. Effective immediately.
HB2496	02/03/2025	Amends the Child Care Act of 1969. Provides that any rule adopted by the Department of Children and Family Services that adds an education or experience requirement to the eligibility criteria for a position does not apply to an employee who already holds that position at the time the requirement is added. Provides that an individual seeking employment at the same position level but at a different facility shall remain eligible for employment in a position equivalent to the individual's current employment position despite any potential changes to eligibility criteria. Effective immediately.
HB2497	02/03/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and operate a caseload tracking system which shall be designed to monitor and evaluate the interrelationship between client case plans, the Department's case tracking system, and the work responsibilities of the Department. Provides that the caseload tracking system shall prioritize the equal distribution of caseload burdens between the personnel of the Department. Provides that if the caseload tracking system generates data that shows a lack of equal distribution of caseload burdens between Department service areas, the Department shall prioritize the reorganization of the service areas so as to equalize caseload burdens.
HB2498	02/03/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to submit to the General Assembly no later than March 1 of each year a report in relation to the ongoing case files of the Department, the caseload tracking system or systems operated by the Department, the ratio of active case files to active Department personnel, and how appropriations to the Department can be structured to incentivize the Department to manage its caseload and to reduce the burden of individual case responsibilities upon individual Department personnel.
HB2499	02/03/2025	Amends the Local Government Debt Reform Act. Provides that alternate bonds issued on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act may not be secured by the proceeds of general obligation bonds issued without referendum approval. Effective immediately.
HB1190	01/09/2025	Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning definitions.
HB1191	01/09/2025	Amends the Downstate Teacher and Chicago Teacher Articles of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that none of the benefits provided for in either Article shall be paid to a person if the person first becomes a member on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act and a board, after an administrative hearing, determines that the person sexually abused a student. Provides that an employer must notify a board if a retiring member has been accused of sexually abusing a student. Provides that a board may, through an administrative hearing, review the claim of sexual abuse and may order that benefits be forfeited. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act shall not operate to impair any contract or vested right acquired before the effective date of the amendatory Act nor to preclude the right to a refund. Provides that all teachers entering service on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be deemed to have consented to the provisions of the amendatory Act as a condition of membership. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB1192	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that, if the amount of the credit for residential real property taxes exceeds the taxpayer's liability, that amount shall be refunded if the taxpayer is 65 years or older and has a federal adjusted gross income of not more than $50,000. Provides that the credit is exempt from the Act's automatic sunset provision. Effective immediately.
HB1193	01/09/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable year 2026, the maximum income limitation for the senior freeze shall be $73,700 for all qualified property (currently, $65,000). Provides that the maximum income limitation shall be adjusted each year according to the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Effective immediately.
HB1194	01/09/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1195	01/09/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1196	01/09/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1197	01/09/2025	Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.