Just Say No; No; NO!

Even though bills are scheduled to be heard in committee, sometimes they are not. Other times, there are amendments to the bills.

Whatever the reason, it is common for Witness Slips to be filed again and again to support or oppose the same legislation.

Often, people like you have to tell legislators "Yes" or "No" repeatedly during the committee hearing season in Springfield.
 
Carry on! Continue to defend your rights.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Take a few minutes to file Witness Slips! They are an easy, efficient, and effective way to communicate your view.

If you haven't filed Witness Slips before, the painless steps to follow are below. Please scroll down to see them.

The time for action is NOW!

With the use of auto-completion, filing an individual slip takes only seconds!

Persistence is more and more important with each passing week. Make your views known to those who were elected to represent you. Please file your Witness Slips now!

House Bill 4528 RENTAL PROP - LEAKING WATER PIPE (OPPOSE)

• This bill being heard April 3 in the Housing Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in OPPOSITION of this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

This Bill is redundant. It addresses matters already in Illinois law, the Residential Tenants' Right to Repair Act 

House Bill 4703 MOBILE HOME LANDLORD/TENANT (OPPOSE)

• This Bill is being discussed in the Housing Committee on Thursday, April 3
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in OPPOSITION to this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5156 TENANTS RIGHT TO ORGANIZE (OPPOSE)

This bill presumes that any action taken against a resident who belongs to a tenants rights organization is retaliatory. In other words, the housing provider is guilty until proven innocent.

• Being heard Thursday, April 3, in the Housing Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in OPPOSITION of this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5165 EVICTION-NOTICE-FEES (AND LIMITS) (OPPOSE)

A partial description of the bill reads, "Creates requirements for notice of termination of a residential lease. For any residential tenancy of less than 6 months, the landlord shall notify the tenant in writing at least 30 days before the stated termination date of the rental agreement of the landlord's intent to terminate a periodic tenancy, not renew a fixed-term rental agreement, or increase the rental rate. Provides that, if the landlord fails to give the required written notice, the tenant may remain in the dwelling unit for up to 60 days after the date on which written notice is given to the tenant."

• Being heard Thursday, April 3, in the Judiciary - Civil Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in OPPOSITION of this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5519 NATIVE LANGUAGE TRANSPARENCY (OPPOSE)

The synopsis reads, in part, "Requires the translation into a language other than English in the requester's native language of a lease, real estate contract, mortgage, or real estate disclosure document if the tenant, lessee, mortgagor, or purchaser so requests. Provides that if the landlord, lessor, mortgagee, or seller refuses to provide a translation, this Act allows the tenant, lessee, mortgagor, or purchaser to void the lease, contract, or mortgage and seek actual damages."

Isn't contract language already subject to enough interpretation by attorneys that we don't need to also include languages other than English?

• This bill is being heard on Thursday April 3 in the Immigration & Human Rights Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in OPPOSITION to this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5525 HUMAN RIGHTS ACT-REAL ESTATE (OPPOSE)

Declares that housing is a “human right”. Also prohibits requiring a credit check before approving a person in the process of renting or requiring a move-in fee in place of or in addition to a security deposit.

• This bill is also being heard on Thursday April 3 in the House Housing Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in OPPOSITION to this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5584 MOBILE HOME-SALE OF PARK (OPPOSE)

Here's an excerpt from the synopsis: "Requires the park owner to submit a relocation plan for tenants who may be dislocated by the change and also creates a process for the tenants through their homeowners organization to buy the park. Provides that the change of use that is sought may not be approved until the park owner submits a relocation plan."

That's just some of it.

• This bill is also being heard on Thursday April 3 in the House Housing Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in OPPOSITION to this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5305 REAL ESTATE ILLEGAL POSSESSION (SUPPORT)

One of the three bills intended to address the growing problem of illegal occupants, i.e. trespassers, commonly referred to as “Squatters”.

"Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act to provide that no person has a right to occupy or remain on or in any real property, residence, or structure in which the person has no written property interest under a written lease or rental agreement with the owner of the property . . ."

• This bill is also being heard on Thursday April 3 in the Judiciary-Civil Committee
• This bill was drafted by the Illinois Rental Property Owners Association, with the input from other stakeholders
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in SUPPORT of this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5314 LOCAL CRIME-FREE HOUSING ORD (SUPPORT)

Prohibits counties or municipalities from enacting various provisions of “Crime-Free Housing Ordinances”. This is important as many such programs are in direct conflict with other laws restricting screening for criminal background.

• This bill is also being heard on April 3 in the Housing Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in SUPPORT of this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

House Bill 5432 CRIME-FREE HOUSING ORDINANCES (SUPPORT)

This bill also prohibits counties or municipalities from enacting various provisions of “Crime-Free Housing Ordinances”. This is important as many such programs are in direct conflict with other laws restricting screening for criminal background.

• This bill is also being heard on Thursday April 3 in the Housing Committee
• Please fill out a Witness Slip in SUPPORT of this bill
• CREATE A WITNESS SLIP

Witness Slips are easy to complete and take only minutes of your time. Make your voice heard before time runs out! File these now, please!

Haven't filled out a Witness Slip yet? It's really very simple. Here's all you need to provide:

• Your Information: Fill in your name identification
• Representation:  You can list more than one thing here: self, your business, I.R.P.O.A. or other groups
• Position: Please select the appropriate radio button. For example, OPPONENT
• Testimony:  Record of Appearance Only - this doesn't mean you need to be there - you are appearing via Witness Slip
• NOTE: If you are going to be there and want to talk - Oral, If you are sending or handing in written testimony - Written Statement Filed

Please Consider Taking Your Action a Step Further

You can call your Illinois State Representative and Illinois State Senator and discuss these issues with them.

Please send them your comments in writing as well. How will these proposals affect you? Let them know that there is more than one side to this story.

Thank you! When you speak up, you help yourself and all of us. We are grateful.

Sincerely,

Andrew

Andrew R. Timms, President

Illinois Rental Property Owners Association

811 E. Rollins Road #42 * Round Lake Beach, IL 60073
630-534-2920