12/19/2025
Finally a new law that makes sense. I never understood squatters having rights.....
Illinois' new "Squatter Bill," Senate Bill 1563, signed into law by Governor Pritzker in July 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, clarifies that law enforcement can remove squatters as criminal trespassers, bypassing the lengthy eviction process previously required for unauthorized occupants, thus giving property owners quicker relief from illegal occupation. The law grants police clearer authority to act against squatters by distinguishing them from tenants, making it easier to remove them from homes and businesses without waiting for a full civil eviction case.