August 11, 2023

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois House,

103rd General Assembly:

Today, with the concurrence of the local municipalities negatively impacted, I am issuing an amendatory veto recommending specific changes to House Bill 2507 from the 103rd General Assembly. The bill appropriately addresses many issues surrounding property taxes, including important property tax relief for surviving spouses of first responders and other more technical changes that I support.

However, an amendment was made to the bill during the legislative process that gives nursing home operators in Cook County a property tax break which passes that cost on to Suburban Cook County homeowners and small businesses, with the greatest impact felt in the South Suburbs. That change will have the effect of raising property taxes on homeowners who are already overburdened and risks driving some residents into foreclosure while simultaneously threatening local school funding. In the Southland alone, reducing property taxes on nursing home owners will negatively impact other property taxpayers in the following communities: Burnham, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crestwood, Dolton, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Matteson, Midlothian, Richton Park, Robbins, South Chicago Heights, and South Holland. In addition, the Villages of LaGrange Park, Chicago Ridge, Palos Park, and Barrington have also expressed concern about the potential negative impact this measure will have on their communities.

Dr. James Discipio, President of the Village of LaGrange Park, wrote to me and said “I cannot support a law that provides tax breaks for for-profit nursing homes on the backs of already burdened property tax payers.” It is difficult for me to imagine that the General Assembly, had they been aware of this aspect of the bill, would feel any differently. I could not agree more with Dr. Discipio on this matter, and I hope that members of the General Assembly will agree by accepting my amendatory veto.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 2507, entitled “ROTA-PAYMENT AGREEMENT,” with the following specific recommendations for change:

On page 147, delete line 22 in its entirety. On page 148, delete lines 1 through 9 in their entirety.

With these changes, House Bill 2507 will have my approval. I respectfully request your acceptance.

Sincerely,                                                                                                             

JB Pritzker

Governor, State of Illinois