Bill Text: IL HB4945 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Repeals the Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-01-10 - Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading January 11, 2021 [HB4945 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB4945-Engrossed.html

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HB4945 Engrossed LRB101 18724 KTG 68179 b
AN ACT concerning urban problems.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Findings.
(1) The General Assembly finds that in the 20th Century
African-American communities in Illinois were substantially
economically disadvantaged due to the policy of "redlining",
whereby mortgage opportunities were denied to
African-Americans or provided at greater than average interest
rates.
(2) The General Assembly finds that through these policies,
the African-American population of Illinois became
concentrated in certain neighborhoods in Illinois cities. Due
to the lack of access to capital, many of the renters in these
neighborhoods were at the mercy of unscrupulous landlords, who
failed to provide the proper maintenance and improvements to
their properties. African-American homeowners in these
neighborhoods often lacked the funds for proper upkeep. As a
result, these neighborhoods began to become rundown and
dilapidated. Soon thereafter these neighborhoods were deemed
"blighted". Policymakers began to look for solutions to the
problem of "blighted areas".
(3) The Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947 was
enacted in an attempt to address the blighted areas problem.

HB4945 Engrossed - 2 - LRB101 18724 KTG 68179 b
However, the General Assembly finds that the ultimate effect of
this Act was to codify discriminatory housing practices by
declaring large swaths of African-American neighborhoods
blighted areas. This resulted in these areas being condemned
and demolished and the residents being forced to move without
affordable housing readily available. The ultimate result was
that the condemned areas were not redeveloped with affordable
housing, but rather converted to mixed industrial or highway
use, effectively serving as a "moat" between African-American
neighborhoods and the rest of the city.
(4) The General Assembly finds that the stain of the
discriminatory effects of the Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act
of 1947 cannot be erased. However, the effects can be
recognized and with the repeal of the Act, the path toward
healing can begin.
(315 ILCS 5/Act rep.)
Section 5. The Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act of 1947 is
repealed.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.