Gov. Pritzker Highlights BUILD Plan at Illinois REALTORS Capitol Conference
Supported by Illinois REALTORS, BUILD plan would cut red tape, increase housing supply, and lower costs for families
April 14, 2026
SPRINGFIELD — Today, Governor JB Pritzker joined state legislators and hundreds of Illinois REALTORS to highlight the Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) housing package at the 2026 Capitol Conference REALTOR Day. The Governor emphasized the urgent need for new housing developments across the state, underscoring BUILD’s ambitious plan to unlock a wider range of housing options for Illinois’ working families.
“We have developers ready to build homes, REALTORS ready to sell them, and Illinoisans who need them,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The BUILD initiative is designed to eliminate barriers to housing development, streamline construction, and help close the housing gap in neighborhoods across the state. In Illinois, we understand that prosperity and abundance don’t come from waiting — they come from building.”
Illinois’ REALTORS understand the challenges locking prospective homebuyers out of the American dream. Limited housing supply offers few affordable options to sell to families, and Illinois will need to build over 225,000 housing units in five years to meet demand. Real estate professionals understand BUILD’s potential to help bring these critical units to the market by making it easier and more cost-effective to build housing in Illinois.
During his State of the State address in February, Governor Pritzker unveiled the BUILD plan as part of his Affordability Agenda. If approved by the Illinois General Assembly, this suite of legislation would expand housing supply and administer a transformative capital investment package:
Unlocking Illinois’ full housing potential: BUILD would legalize a wider range of family-friendly housing types that Illinoisans can afford, such as duplexes, triplexes and four-flats. The legislation would also permit Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to boost homeowner income and local housing supply. Additionally, BUILD would prioritize people over parking spaces, allowing developers to build new housing with more sensible parking space requirements.
Attracting more housing developers by cutting red tape: BUILD would make housing development faster and more cost-effective. It would give developers clear timelines for permit reviews and inspections and standardize impact fee practices — increasing predictability while protecting decision-making at the local level. It would also allow qualified third parties to help developers when delays occur.
Delivering $250 million to support development and homeownership: $100 million in capital funding would support middle housing construction and $50 million would go toward down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IDHA) would administer these funds.
Additionally, $100 million in capital grant funding to eliminate infrastructure barriers to housing projects (including stormwater, sewer, and site access improvements) would be administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). This investment would help unlock approx. 100 sites and enable up to 4,000 new homes.
Last month, Governor Pritzker convened local officials, real estate professionals, construction and business representatives, and community members at a Bloomington roundtable discussion on the BUILD proposal. This wide-ranging conversation shed light on the importance of meeting Illinoisans’ housing needs and how BUILD can address the critical housing supply challenges affecting renters, homebuyers, and developers alike.
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