SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – Governor JB Pritzker signed a new law Monday that will make it easier for police to remove squatters from homes across Illinois, eliminating the need for property owners to go through lengthy court-ordered eviction processes.
Senate Bill 1563 clarifies that police can enforce criminal trespassing charges against squatters—people who unlawfully occupy a residence with the intent to stay—without requiring a civil eviction order. The legislation aims to streamline law enforcement response to squatting cases and restore control to rightful property owners more quickly.
“Squatters are a problem, and no one should have to get an eviction notice to remove squatters from their home,” said Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago), who sponsored the bill in the Senate. “Law enforcement need to be able to do their job and return homes to their rightful owners.”
The measure passed the General Assembly with near-unanimous support. The lone dissenting vote came from Sen. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport).
The bill was backed by numerous stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, real estate professionals, and property owner associations, all of whom expressed frustration with the slow and cumbersome eviction process that squatters have exploited.
One of the most vocal supporters of the law was Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago), who recently experienced the issue firsthand. Earlier this summer, squatters moved into a house next door to Evans’ home in Chicago’s Avalon Park neighborhood. The property was listed for sale when its owners discovered strangers living inside illegally.
ABC7 Chicago reported that when the owners contacted police, they were told an eviction would be required—a legal process that in Cook County can take several months. Evans, frustrated by the situation, publicly pledged to urge the governor to act swiftly. The bill was sponsored in the House by Rep. Jawaharial Williams (D-Chicago).
“My community is full of hardworking, mortgage- and rent-paying citizens who believe in working, not stealing and scheming,” Evans said in a Facebook post. “We don’t support crooks who prey on hardworking people.”
Supporters say the law closes a dangerous loophole that has allowed bad actors to live in others’ homes while owners are left without immediate legal recourse. Under the new law, starting January 1, police will have the authority to treat squatting as a criminal offense rather than a civil dispute.
The move is being welcomed by homeowners and housing advocates alike, who say the law strikes a balance between protecting property rights and ensuring swift enforcement of housing laws.
