With affordability being a top concern for many Illinoisans, State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) helped defeat a Democrat bill that could lead to higher rental costs for working families.
On Thursday, the Illinois House of Representatives debated legislation regarding rental fee transparency. The Democrat sponsor, Rep. Nabeela Syed, attempted to push through House Bill 3564 on a Concurrence motion, while many questions remained about what her bill would actually do.
Representative Hammond spoke in opposition to Syed’s bill, arguing that the sponsor had a clean version in House Bill 5234 ready to go and therefore, there was no urgency to push for a Concurrence motion on HB 3564 while questions about the effect and intent of the bill were still lingering.
“Like we have seen so many times in Springfield, House Democrats attempted to ram through questionable legislation at the last minute on the final day of the session week,” Rep. Hammond said. “This bill was not ready for a vote, as concerns were raised both in committee and on the House floor about what the various Senate amendments would do. Beyond that, the Democrats’ so-called ‘fee transparency’ bill could lead to higher rental costs for working families and seniors on fixed incomes. I spoke out against this bill because hardworking Illinoisans cannot afford to pay even higher rents in these difficult times.”
With Representative Hammond leading the charge against it, House Bill 3564 lost on a Concurrence vote of 56-36-02 (60 ‘Yes’ vote requirement).