Illinois Rep. Chung’s township notice procedures bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Sharon Chung aims to broaden how townships may deliver advance notice before property maintenance actions, including posting notices on-site with photographic proof, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 72 Democrats and 37 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 40 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Chung introduced the bill in the Illinois House on Feb. 5, 2026 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as HB5167, was passed on May 21, 2026 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Township Code. In a provision that authorizes a township board to provide for the cutting of weeds or grass, the trimming of trees or bushes, the removal of nuisance bushes or trees, or the maintenance of a retention pond or detention pond on any real estate in areas within the township, specifies that the required 7-day advance notice to the property owner may be served by certified mail, by personal service, or by posting the notice on the property in a prominent location.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Township Code to expand how townships may serve the required 7-day advance notice before cutting weeds or grass, trimming or removing nuisance trees or bushes, or maintaining retention or detention ponds on residential property when owners fail to do so. The bill allows notice to be served not only by certified mail but also by personal service or by posting the notice in a prominent location on the property. It specifies that posting is legally sufficient if proven with a date-stamped photograph showing the notice posted on the property.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. David Koehler (Democrat-46th District) and Sen. Sally J. Turner (Republican-44th District).

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Chung graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a BA.

Chung, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 91st House District, replacing previous state representative Mark Luft.

Lawmakers listed as “Excused Absence” had formally informed leadership of their inability to attend the vote, often due to health or personal circumstances.