Avelar Bill Protecting Children from Improper Eviction Cases Passes House Chamber

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Pushing back on an alarming new trend that can affect a young person’s future ability to obtain housing, state Rep. Dagmara “Dee” Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, recently advanced legislation out of the House chamber that bars landlords from suing children along with their parents or guardians in eviction cases.

“This bill is a commonsense step toward protecting the future of our children and ensuring that a single eviction doesn’t become a lifelong barrier to stable housing for minors being wrapped up in eviction cases,” said Avelar. “I’m hopeful the Senate will move swiftly to pass this measure and help us stop a damaging trend that drags innocent children into the court room over matters they’re not responsible for.”

Avelar passed House Bill 3566 out of the House chamber, ensuring that an eviction complaint can be dismissed if a minor is named as a defendant, or if the person was a minor when the complaint was filed. Because evictions remain on tenant screening reports, public records, and background checks even if the minor was never responsible for the lease, this bill mitigates the likeliness of future housing instability, negative credit reporting and potential homelessness when the minor becomes an adult.

The legislation awaits bicameral consideration.