Illinois Democrats are zeroing in on affordability and technology use in the state’s 2025-26 legislative session.

Gov. JB Pritzker proposed a sweeping housing package in February as part of his State of the State address. His Building Up Illinois Developments plan would preempt local zoning regulations.

In a March news release, Pritzker decried the “patchwork” local zoning restrictions, saying they made it “too difficult” to build housing in Illinois.  

“Illinois working families deserve better,” Pritzker said in the news release. “Homeownership — a cornerstone of the American dream — is too far out of reach, and rent is too damn high. We’re coming together to cut through red tape, build more homes, and make Illinois the best state to live, work, and raise a family.” 

Pritzker’s push for zoning reform comes as the state faces a serious housing crisis, with home values up nearly 50% since 2019, according to the Illinois Policy Institute. Democrats have made affordability a key watchword ahead of the November midterms. 

The BUILD plan is divided into a cluster of bills designed to strip local governments of the tools that supporters of the plan say are used to limit density and slow development.

The bills include a variety of provisions, like requiring municipalities to allow up to eight housing units on larger residential lots, standardizing how municipal developer fees are calculated and imposing strict deadlines on municipalities to review building permits. They also include measures severely limiting parking minimums for residential buildings and forcing municipalities to allow homeowners to build an accessory dwelling unit on any single-family lot.

Many of these provisions are also included in a broader House bill, which bundles all of Pritzker’s proposed housing reforms into one sweeping overhaul of the state’s municipal code.

In keeping with their focus on affordability, Illinois legislators are also taking on junk fees. Another Senate bill, known as the Junk Fee Ban Act, would require businesses to display the full price of goods and services upfront rather than tacking on hidden fees at checkout. It would also restrict insurance companies’ ability to raise auto and home insurance premiums.

“Illinois families should never face surprise charges or hidden fees,” said State Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort), who introduced the bill, in a February statement. “This bill puts transparency and fairness first, making it easier for consumers to manage their subscriptions and make informed decisions.”

The version of the bill in the House is cosponsored by State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) and Illinois House Majority Leader and State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), who both represent parts of Evanston.

Gong-Gershowitz also authored a Senate bill known as the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, which would mandate age verification for social media platforms and regulate how they engage with minors.

“We’ve been a little bit too late to the game to talk seriously about how do we protect children’s mental health and children’s safety online,” Gong-Gershowitz told Capitol News Illinois. “These conversations I think have been taking place in every household in America.”

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