Illinois governor says housing supply plan likely delayed until next session
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced on Thursday that his proposed statewide housing supply and affordability plan, known as BUILD, could be delayed beyond the current legislative calendar.
The governor told reporters the legislation might be set aside during the six‑day fall veto session slated for mid‑November and early December, with a view to re‑introducing it when the 105th General Assembly convenes in January.
“It’s a short session, as you know, the veto session. So I do believe that you’re going to see that in the coming full session starting in January,” Pritzker said.
The BUILD package aims to overhaul zoning rules and other regulations across Illinois to increase housing supply, cut overhead costs, and accelerate development timelines. If enacted, the plan would address the state’s estimated shortfall of several hundred thousand homes needed to meet the 2030 goal.
The proposal has encountered pushback from the Illinois Municipal League (IML), which argues that local governments should retain control over zoning. The IML’s counter‑proposal, the REAL Housing Act, seeks to keep zoning decisions at the municipal level rather than imposing a statewide framework.
Brad Cole, CEO of the IML, said the league remains ready to work with lawmakers but cited being left out of early meetings with the governor’s office. “Municipal officials across Illinois remain dedicated to improving housing access and affordability and believe meaningful progress can be made while preserving local decision‑making,” he said.
Despite the stalled legislation, Pritzker highlighted that lawmakers succeeded in earmarking $250 million in the current budget to bolster existing state housing programs. He emphasized his continued commitment to expanding housing opportunities, noting that the state is “a couple of hundred thousand homes behind” its 2030 target.
The General Assembly will reconvene for its veto session from November 17‑19 and December 1‑3, after which the fate of the BUILD initiative will become clearer. If not passed during the session, the bills will need to be re‑filed and move through the legislative process again in January.
