Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – You shouldn’t lose your home if you cannot keep up on your property taxes. That’s what a state lawmaker said Tuesday at a statehouse news conference.

“This legislation was created because of an inundation since I’ve gotten elected from folks asking, why can’t we lower the property taxes and why there is such inconsistencies with respect to their assessments,” said State Sen. Willie Preston (pictured) (D-Chicago) “and right now, folks are seeing their property taxes doubled overnight, and they are getting these assessments, and they are trying to go through the process of reassessments, And many of them are losing their homes, quite frankly, because they are uneducated about how to get reassessed.”

Preston says it’s not a free pass.

“It does not forgive taxes. It does not let anyone skip responsibility. It does not harm municipalities. What this bill does is replace exploitation with fairness,” said Preston. “Too often, the people who are hurt by the current system are seniors on fixed incomes. Vacant homes are increasing. Communities are destabilizing, and generational wealth disappears.

The bill would discourage speculators who buy people’s delinquent tax bills.