Following state rep’s encounter, Pritzker signs ‘squatter bill’ into law
[July 22, 2025]
By Ben Szalinski
A new law signed by Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday will make it easier for
police to remove squatters who are illegally staying at a residence.
Squatters are people who enter and occupy a place for a long period of
time with the intention of staying there, rather than a trespasser who
enters without intentions to stay.
Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1563, which clarifies that a court-ordered
eviction is not required for police to remove squatters from a person’s
home. The bill stipulates that police can enforce criminal trespassing
charges against a squatter.
“Squatters are a problem, and no one should have to get an eviction
notice to remove squatters from their home,” bill sponsor Sen. Lakesia
Collins, D-Chicago, said in a statement. “Law enforcement need to be
able to do their job and return homes to their rightful owners.”
The bill passed through the General Assembly nearly unanimously, with
only Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, voting against it.
Law enforcement, real estate and property owner organizations supported
the bill.
Collins, who represents much of the West Side of Chicago, said the bill
came from concerns her constituents expressed and said the goal was to
make it easier for police to enforce criminal trespassing. State law
does not explicitly give police the power to remove a person squatting
in another person’s home without an eviction.
A lawmaker’s encounter
Pritzker signed the bill after Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, had a
first-hand encounter with squatters this summer.
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Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1563 after Rep. Marcus Evans,
pictured, D-Chicago, had a first-hand encounter with squatters
recently. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)
ABC7 Chicago reported last week squatters moved in next door to Evans’
Avalon Park home on Chicago’s South Side. The owners of the house had
put the home up for sale, but last week found strangers living inside
without buying or renting the home.
According to ABC7, Chicago Police told homeowners they couldn’t remove
the squatters from the home and the homeowners would have to go through
the eviction process in Cook County court, which can take months. Evans
told ABC7 he would call Pritzker directly to ask him to sign the bill,
which 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 Monday. “We don’t support crooks who prey on hardworking
people.”
The law takes effect Jan. 1.
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