Illinois Senate Minority Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) and State Senator Erica Harriss (R-Glen Carbon)presented legislative solutions to help make buying and staying in a home more affordable in Illinois. 

Last year, first-time home buyers dropped to a record low of 21 percent of total purchases, while the average age of first-time buyers climbed to an all-time high of 40 years, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

“There’s nothing quite like turning the key to your very first home,” said Senator Harriss. “Families across the Metro East work hard to build their lives here, but Illinois’ sky-high taxes are making everyday life tougher. It’s easy to campaign on affordability and property tax relief, but too often those promises go unfulfilled. Lowering taxes can be done. I have done it before. This legislative package builds on the progress we have already made and continues my commitment to delivering real, tangible relief for Illinois families.”

To help encourage potential first-time homebuyers to take the next step, Senator Harriss introduced the Welcome Home Illinois Tax Credit, Senate Bill 3959, which provides a $500 non-refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers, carried forward for up to five years.

Senator Harriss noted that according to recent Census Bureau migration estimates, nearly 7,500 Illinoisans moved from Illinois to Missouri, where the average property tax bill is less than half of the average bill in Illinois.

To help reduce this difference, Senator Harriss introduced Senate Bill 3781 to make the Illinois Property Tax Credit refundable when you file your Illinois income taxes.

“If your credit exceeds what you owe, you receive a check for the difference,” said Senator Harriss. “That turns a paper credit into real relief — dollars that can help cover groceries, utilities, or prescription costs.”

Senator Harriss also introduced Senate Bill 3782, the Fairness in Property Tax Foreclosure Task Force, to work for solutions to ending Illinois’ antiquated property tax foreclosure system that the United States Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. 

Under current law, delinquent property taxes are sold to investors, and families can lose not only their home — but the equity they spent years building.

Senator Harriss said the task force will ensure we reform the system responsibly and protect homeowners from losing the wealth they worked a lifetime to build.

Home prices in Illinois have increased by 37 percent over the last five years, according to a study by the University of Illinois, but that increase is not reflected in the state’s General Homestead Exemption.

Senate Bill 3849, filed by Leader Curran,will add annual Consumer Price Index cost increases to Illinois’ General Homestead Exemption. By tying the exemption to inflation, homeowners could see immediate relief that better reflects the increased costs they are paying. 

Leader Curran also addressed another added cost crushing Illinois residents – rising costs of homeowners insurance that have increased by more than 25 percent for many Illinoisans over the last year.

In response, Leader Curran introduced Senate Bill 3848,which createsan income tax deduction on the year-over-year increase in a taxpayer’s home insurance. 

“We need a holistic approach that includes real, long-term property tax reform if we want to make purchasing and owning a home more affordable in Illinois,” said Leader Curran. “However, these solutions would help bring costs down right away to support families while we work for greater change.”

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The legislation was unveiled at a State Capitol press conference which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/IAg0YyqfyGI.