Illinois Attorney General Opposes HUD Rollback of Fair Housing Rules

CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 23 other state attorneys general in opposing a proposed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rule that would remove liability for housing discrimination based on its effects. The coalition said the change would weaken enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, make it harder for states to challenge policies that have discriminatory outcomes, and send a misleading message that some forms of discrimination are acceptable. The attorneys general argued the rule is unlawful because HUD did not justify removing regulations that protect residents from discrimination based on race, sex, disability, familial status, and other factors, and they urged the agency to maintain the current standards.