Dupage Policy Journal

Diane Blair-Sherlock introduced HB0070 in the Illinois House on Jan. 9, 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. Increases the amount of the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities from $2,000 to $4,000 beginning in tax year 2025. Effective immediately."

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

In essence, the bill amends the Property Tax Code in Illinois to increase the annual homestead exemption for persons with disabilities from $2,000 to $4,000, starting in the tax year 2025. To be eligible, a person must occupy the property as their primary residence, pay the real estate taxes, and have a legal or equitable ownership interest. If persons with disabilities relocate to certain licensed facilities, the exemption remains if the residence is occupied by a spouse or remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person. The bill also outlines procedures for verifying eligibility, designating others to receive tax delinquency notices, and conditions for automatic renewal of exemptions depending on local approval. The act is effective immediately upon becoming law.

Diane Blair-Sherlock has proposed another five bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Blair-Sherlock graduated from College of DuPage in 1985 with an AA and again in 1987 from Northern Illinois University with a BS.

She also earned a JD from John Marshall Law School in 1993.

Diane Blair-Sherlock is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 46th House District. She replaced previous state representative Deborah Conroy in 2023.

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
HB0070	01/09/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Increases the amount of the homestead exemption for persons with disabilities from $2,000 to $4,000 beginning in tax year 2025. Effective immediately.
HB0061	01/09/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that each tax bill shall include a statement of the dollar amount of the taxpayer's total tax bill that is attributable to a ballot initiative or referendum and the date on which each property tax-related change made by that ballot initiative or referendum will expire. Effective immediately.
HB0066	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Establishes that a motor vehicle owner shall provide a liability policy and every such policy or bond is subject, if the motor vehicle crash has resulted in bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than $50,000 (rather than $25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of any one person in any one motor vehicle crash and, subject to said limit for one person, to a limit of not less than $100,000 (rather $50,000) because of bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons in any one motor vehicle crash, and, if the motor vehicle crash has resulted in injury to or destruction of property, to a limit of not less than $40,000 (rather than $20,000). Requires a motor vehicle owner or any person that maintains, uses, or operates a motor vehicle to furnish proof of financial responsibility in the amounts provided. Establishes that a judgment arising out of a motor vehicle crash is deemed satisfied once the specified policy amount is credited toward the judgment. Effective immediately.
HB0067	01/09/2025	Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act. Provides that an association may not prohibit a law enforcement officer or a firefighter who is a parcel owner, or who is a tenant, guest, or invitee of a parcel owner, from parking his or her assigned law enforcement vehicle or firefighter vehicle in an area where the parcel owner, or the tenant, guest, or invitee of the parcel owner, otherwise has a right to park.
HB0068	01/09/2025	Creates the Bottled Drinking Water Sales Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, an entertainment venue operating in the State shall not charge more than specified amounts for bottled drinking water. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2031, and every 5 years thereafter, the Attorney General shall adjust the rates by the average of the annual percentage increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as issued by the United States Department of Labor from the previous 5 years. Provides that an entertainment venue that violates the Act is subject to a civil penalty of not more than an amount equal to 10% of the total ticket sales from the entertainment event at which the violation occurred. Provides that the Attorney General may bring an action to enforce the collection of any civil penalty. Defines terms. Effective January 1, 2026.
HB0069	01/09/2025	Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for taxable years 2025 and thereafter, the maximum income limitation for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is $75,000 for all qualified property. Effective immediately.