Sen. Sally Turner’s legislation to
keep at-risk veteran homes affordable passes Senate
Bill prompted by conversations with CIVC
in Lincoln
Send a link to a friend
[April 10, 2024]
Help
is coming for organizations that provide affordable housing to
at-risk veterans, thanks to legislation passed by State Senator
Sally Turner (R-Beason). Her legislation unanimously passed the
Senate on April 9th.
The 2023 Electric Vehicle Charging Act requires all new affordable
housing developments to include EV-capable parking spaces. After the
Act’s enactment, the Central Illinois Veterans Commission (CIVC),
which builds affordable tiny homes for homeless veterans, feared the
new regulations could make their venture to assist at-risk veterans
unsustainable.
“The tiny homes that the Central Illinois Veterans Commission
provides are no more than 800 square feet and are completely built
through volunteer efforts,” said Sen. Turner. “The requirements of
the Electric Vehicle Charging Act may have come from a place of good
intentions, but they also created unintended harm and expenses that
threatened the Commission’s continued efforts to combat veterans’
homelessness.”
[to top of second column] |
In response to the CIVC’s
concerns, Sen. Turner introduced Senate Bill 2597, which
stipulates that the Act’s provisions do not apply to tiny homes
designated for veterans who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness, provided these homes were funded and constructed
by qualified non-profit organizations.
“The CIVC is currently working to build six more tiny
homes in the coming months, but we had serious concerns about our
ability to afford the EV requirements,” said CIVC Director Joe
Schaler. “I would like to thank Senator Turner for her efforts to
ensure that we can continue to provide affordable housing
opportunities for at-risk veterans.”
Senate Bill 2597 passed out of the Senate with a 54-0 vote and will
now head to the Illinois House of Representatives for further
consideration.
[Marcus J. Durrett
Senior Communications Strategist
Communications and Public Affairs]
|