---
type: "Bill"
title: "PROP TX-OPEN SPACE APPLICATION"
description: "Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that applications for open space valuation must be filed by June 30 (instead of January 31). Effective immediately."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "97th"
identifier: "HB 234"
citation: "Illinois HB 234 (97th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 36
vote_count: 4
first_action: "2011-01-21"
last_action: "2011-08-11"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/33387001-f410-45b9-b488-b902790c27c7"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=234&GAID=11&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=54858&SessionID=84&GA=97"
source_hash: "e44d06be044c851441a3daa12b1b161ee20831cb70267a68148f50be1ac2a00e"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 234 (97th) — PROP TX-OPEN SPACE APPLICATION

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that applications for open space valuation must be filed by June 30 (instead of January 31). Effective immediately.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700HB0234&GA=97&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=54858&DocNum=234&GAID=11&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700HB0234eng&GA=97&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=54858&DocNum=234&GAID=11&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09700HB0234enr&GA=97&SessionId=84&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=54858&DocNum=234&GAID=11&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **57–0** (pass) · upper
- Third Reading — **114–0** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **113–0** (pass) · lower
- Motion — **115–0** (fail) · lower

## Sponsors

- Timothy L. Schmitz — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2011-01-21** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Tom Cross `filing`
- **2011-01-21** Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Timothy L. Schmitz
- **2011-01-25** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2011-01-25** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2011-02-08** Assigned to Revenue & Finance Committee `referral-committee`
- **2011-03-09** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Tom Cross `amendment-introduction`
- **2011-03-09** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2011-03-09** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Revenue & Finance Committee
- **2011-03-17** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Revenue & Finance Committee; by Voice Vote `amendment-passage`
- **2011-03-17** Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Revenue & Finance Committee; 007-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2011-03-17** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2011-03-23** Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Timothy L. Schmitz
- **2011-03-23** Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Timothy L. Schmitz
- **2011-03-23** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Tom Cross
- **2011-03-29** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2011-03-29** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2011-03-30** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 114-000-001 `reading-3, passage`
- **2011-03-30** Motion Filed to Reconsider Vote Rep. Lou Lang
- **2011-03-30** Motion to Reconsider Vote - Prevails 115-000-000
- **2011-03-30** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 113-000-002 `reading-3, passage`
- **2011-03-31** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2011-03-31** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 6, 2011 `reading-1`
- **2011-04-04** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Matt Murphy
- **2011-04-07** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2011-04-07** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2011-04-27** Assigned to Revenue `referral-committee`
- **2011-05-05** Do Pass Revenue; 007-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2011-05-05** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 6, 2011
- **2011-05-06** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2011-05-06** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 10, 2011
- **2011-05-17** Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2011-05-17** Passed Both Houses
- **2011-06-15** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2011-08-11** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2011-08-11** Effective Date August 11, 2011
- **2011-08-11** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0296 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/33387001-f410-45b9-b488-b902790c27c7`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).