Bill Text: IL SB1985 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Stop Squatters Act. Creates a process for local law enforcement to remove a person who is unlawfully occupying residential or commercial property without any right to do so. Requires the property owner to file a complaint with local law enforcement alleging facts to trigger the Act. Provides that law enforcement is entitled to a reasonable fee to remove an unauthorized occupant and provides legal protection to law enforcement for acting on a complaint. Provides that if the complaint is found to be false, the property owner shall indemnity the law enforcement agency. Creates a civil action of action for a person who was wrongfully removed. Creates a civil cause of action for the property owner for damages by the wrongful occupant. Amends the Criminal Code of 20212. Creates a Class 4 felony for making a false statement to detain real property and fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property".

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-05-30 - Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Chris Balkema [SB1985 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB1985-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1985 Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Chapin Rose SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
720 ILCS 5/21-3.5 new
720 ILCS 5/21-3.7 new
Creates the Stop Squatters Act. Creates a process for local law enforcement to remove a person who is unlawfully occupying residential or commercial property without any right to do so. Requires the property owner to file a complaint with local law enforcement alleging facts to trigger the Act. Provides that law enforcement is entitled to a reasonable fee to remove an unauthorized occupant and provides legal protection to law enforcement for acting on a complaint. Provides that if the complaint is found to be false, the property owner shall indemnity the law enforcement agency. Creates a civil action of action for a person who was wrongfully removed. Creates a civil cause of action for the property owner for damages by the wrongful occupant. Amends the Criminal Code of 20212. Creates a Class 4 felony for making a false statement to detain real property and fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property".
LRB104 10293 JRC 20367 b
A BILL FOR
SB1985 LRB104 10293 JRC 20367 b
AN ACT concerning civil law.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title.This may be referred to as the Stop
Squatters Act.
Section 5. Legislative intent. The General Assembly finds
that the right to exclude others from entering and the right to
direct others to immediately vacate residential and commercial
real property are fundamental property rights.
Section 10. Process to remove unlawful occupant.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a property owner or
authorized agent may request that the county sheriff or the
chief of police of the local jurisdiction to immediately
remove any person or persons unlawfully occupying a
residential dwelling or commercial building if the following
conditions are met:
(1) The requesting person is the property owner or
authorized agent.
(2) The real property includes a residential dwelling
or commercial building.
(3) An unauthorized person or persons are unlawfully
occupying the property.

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(4) The property was not open to the public at the time
of entry.
(5) The property owner has directed the unauthorized
person or persons to leave.
(6) The unauthorized person or persons are not current
or former tenants.
(7) The unauthorized person or persons are not
immediate family members of the property owner.
(8) No pending litigation exists between the property
owner and the unauthorized person or persons.
(b) To request the immediate removal under this
Section, the property owner or authorized agent must
submit a completed and verified complaint that includes
the information in subsection (a) to the sheriff or police
chief.
(c) Upon receipt of the complaint, the law enforcement
agency that receives the complaint shall conduct
preliminary fact-finding, which may include reviewing any
alleged lease agreement, talking to neighbors, and other
relevant inquiries to ascertain the validity of the
complaint. If the preliminary fact-finding indicates
probable cause that the above conditions outlined in this
Section are met, then the law enforcement agency shall
serve a notice to immediately vacate on the unlawful
occupants and put the property owner in possession of the
real property.

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(d) The law enforcement agency is entitled to a
reasonable fee for service to be determined by the unit of
local government that the law enforcement agency serves.
Upon serving the notice, the property owner may request
the law enforcement agency to remain to keep the peace
while changing locks and removing personal property of the
unlawful occupants.
(e) The property owner who submits a complaint under
this Section that turns out to be false shall indemnify
the law enforcement agency and its agents for any damages
awarded against the law enforcement agency or its agents
for their good faith conduct that was based on the
complaint. A civil cause of action for wrongful removal of
the occupant is allowed, with remedies, including
restoration of possession, actual costs, damages, and
attorney's fees.
(f) This Section does not limit other rights of the
property owner or law enforcement authority.
Section 15. Civil action for violation. A property owner
may file a civil action against a person who unlawfully
occupies a residential dwelling or commercial building in
violation of this Act and intentionally damages them. The
court shall award the property owner the owner's actual
damages or $1,000, whichever is greater. If the court finds
for the property owner, the defendant must also pay the

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attorney's fees and costs of the property owner for bringing
the civil action.
Section 20. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by adding
Sections 21-3.5 and 21-3.7 as follows:
(720 ILCS 5/21-3.5 new)
Sec. 21-3.5. Making false statement to detain real
property.
(a) A person commits making a false statement to detain
property when the person knowingly presents a false document
purporting to convey real property rights.
(b) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class 4
felony.
(720 ILCS 5/21-3.7 new)
Sec. 21-3.7. Fraudulent sale or lease of residential real
property.
(a) A person commits a fraudulent sale or lease of
residential real property when the person knowingly lists or
advertises residential real property or a commercial building
for sale or rent without legal title or authority to do so.
(b) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class 4
felony.