Lake County Gazette

Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) urged lawmakers to reject legislation that would help struggling residents and renters remain in their homes because it didn't have enough protections for investors or property managers. 

“To the bill, in addition to other comments we've heard, for a lack of ability to encourage relief assistance to all of those who need it who are not just those living in the dwelling but those who manage and invest in the dwelling, I recommended a no vote,” Wilcox recently said on the Senate floor in voicing his opposition to House Bill 2877.

The legislation created the COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act, which has stipulations for the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance program and further prioritizing requests for financial help and housing. 

Even as the bill ultimately passed 39-13, Wilcox said had questions. 

“Did we modify the assistance process to allow landlords or financial institutions to apply for the relief of the homeowner or renter fails to,” he said. “Will this still preclude evictions or foreclosures if the landlord or financial institution can show they failed to apply for assistance?”

House Bill 2877 also amends the Code of Civil Procedure to make changes concerning the sealing of court files in the present environment. The measure designates that “certain new provisions concerning [the] sealing of court files in a residential eviction action apply until Aug. 1, 2022.”

Beyond that, the measure stipulates the sealing of a court file in a residential eviction action; emergency sealing of a court file in a residential eviction action during the COVID-19 emergency and economic recovery period; and a temporary COVID-19 stay of certain foreclosure proceedings and filings.

Finally, the measure, which is slated to take effect immediately, seeks to make corresponding Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act changes.