IL SB0685

Allows chief county assessment officers to automatically approve homestead exemptions for the 2020 taxable year without requiring new applications for properties that received exemptions in 2019, including exemptions for persons with disabilities, veterans with disabilities, and the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze, provided the county declared a COVID-19 local disaster and ownership remained unchanged

Permits county boards in counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants to waive some or all interest penalties on delinquent property tax payments for the 2019 taxable year (payable in 2020) for up to 120 days or until the statewide COVID-19 emergency ends

Postpones annual tax sales in counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants that would ordinarily occur in 2020 until at least 120 days after the Act's effective date or until the statewide COVID-19 emergency ends

Delays Cook County's 2018 annual tax sale (normally held in 2020) until the first month when there is no longer a statewide COVID-19 public health emergency declaration

Clarifies that no tax year may be offered at a scavenger sale prior to the annual tax sale for that tax year, and defines "warrant year" for omitted assessments