'Squatter Bill' passes in Illinois House, heads to Governor Pritzker's desk

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- The Illinois House unanimously voted to pass Senate Bill 1563, known as the Squatter Bill on Wednesday. It now heads to Governor JB Pritzker's desk.

Lawmakers say this is the farthest a squatter bill has ever gotten in the state of Illinois.

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The proposed Illinois law would make it easier for police to remove squatters from someone's home, bypassing the months-long eviction process.

Previously, squatters were allowed to stay at the property during the court process to get them out.

If the bill becomes law, it would differentiate squatters from tenants, making it easier for property owners to regain control of their home.

WATCH | Squatting in Illinois: A Statewide Fight

Representative La Shawn Ford, who is a co-sponsor of the bill, said this is a huge victory for homeowners statewide.

"This bill will take away the legal standing of the squatter," Ford said. "We will treat them as trespassers and not as tenants."

The ABC7 I-Team has been covering multiple alleged squatting cases in the Chicago area for months. Homeowners have been going to great lengths to get strangers out of their homes. Current law prevents law enforcement from removing the alleged squatters right away.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have acknowledged the issue as problematic.

"We've heard of instances of people providing false documents and fake rental agreements in order to remain on the property," 10th District State Representative Jawaharial Williams. "Will this bill address that situation? Yes. It will also make it an offense when people present false documentation or fake their identity to the police officers or the owners of the property."

SEE ALSO | 5 ways to protect your home, vacant property from squatters

If the bill becomes law, police would have the authority to remove squatters the moment the owner can prove the property is rightfully theirs. They'll no longer have to take it up in eviction court.

Representative Ford said he's been working on this for decades and said this bill has been a long time coming.

"This is something that was made possible, I believe, by the work of the colleagues and Sam on our side. It's true because we've tried to pass this for many, many years but the exposure you've provided has made it more likely and possible," Ford said. "It socialized it in a great way. It brought law enforcement on board. Housing advocates on board, seeing it on the news and seeing the struggles of homeowners... The public and the members of the house and senate saw how homeowners were impacted."

Lawmakers believe Gov. Pritzker will sign the bill into law based on the amount of support it has received and conversations they've had with his administration.

Ealier this month, a woman was arrested and charged for allegedly squatting in a Chicago home. The woman showed the home owners so-called mortgage documents to prove that she bought the home. However, police said she used a fake name.

Sam is on your side. If you have a problem you want Samantha Chatman to investigate, call the ABC7 I-Team tip line at 312-750-7TIP.