ILLINOIS GOVERNOR SIGNS BI-PARTISAN BILL INTO LAW PROTECTING PROPERTY OWNERS FROM SQUATTERS

In February 2025 Illinois Senator Lakesia Collins introduced Senate Bill 1563, commonly referred to as the “Squatter Bill.” The bill sought to amend 735 ILCS 5/9-102, known as the “Eviction Article”, to allow law enforcement officers to remove trespassing squatters from real property without requiring the property owner to file formal eviction proceedings. 735 ILCS 5/9-102.

Illinois’ homeowners were seeing a frightening increase in squatters over the last several years. The squatters would break into a home, change the locks and refuse to leave. Once the squatters took over a home, law enforcement officers could not remove them until the homeowner obtained an eviction order; a process that usually took six or more months.

To combat the problem, the Squatter Bill was introduced so law enforcement offers could treat a squatter as a trespasser instead of a tenant. Lawmakers had tried to pass the same or similar bills in the past without success. ABC News anchor Samantha Chatman started covering the growing crisis this year bringing it to the attention of the public and members of the house and senate.

Likely due to growing awareness, both houses passed the Squatter Bill in May 2025, but the bill remained pending on the desk of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker awaiting his signature. Finally, on July 21, 2025, Governor Pritzker signed the bill into law. Section 9-102 was amended to add a new subsection (E) which reads:

Nothing in this article may be construed to prohibit law enforcement officials from enforcing the offense of criminal trespass under section 21-3 of the criminal code of 1963 or any other violation of the code or to interfere with the ability of law enforcement officials to remove persons or property from the premises when there is a criminal trespass.

2025 Bill Text IL S.B. 1563.

The passage of the Squatter Bill was a huge victory for homeowners who, starting in January 2026, will be able to immediately regain physical possession of their property from a trespassing squatter the moment the homeowner can prove they own the property. The Bill will take effect on January 1, 2026.

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