IL HB3690

Establishes new fixed interest penalty rates for tax certificates sold after January 1, 2026: 0.75% per month in counties with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants (Cook County) and 1.25% per month in counties with 3,000,000 or fewer inhabitants, replacing the current tiered penalty system based on redemption timing

Increases fees related to tax deed petitions from $35 to $350 when a petition has been filed, and from $4 to $40 when a notice under Section 22-5 has been filed

Requires county collectors to either use an automated bidding system that selects winning bidders at random (eliminating the lowest-bid system) or digitally record all tax sales with video and audio, with recordings maintained for at least 3 years

Expands the single bidder rule requirement to counties with 100,000 or more inhabitants (previously 275,000), prohibiting tax purchasers from registering more than one related bidding entity at tax sales