Chicago City Wire

Bill Cunningham introduced SB1179 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 24, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Energy Efficient Building Act. Provides that the Capital Development Board shall adopt specified provisions into the Illinois Energy Conservation Code concerning insulation in an unvented attic and an unvented enclosed rafter assemblies."

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 Energy Efficient Building Act, requiring the Capital Development Board to adopt specific insulation provisions into the Illinois Energy Conservation Code. The new guidelines mandate the use of air-impermeable R-30 insulation with a maximum U-Factor of 0.038 in unvented attics and enclosed rafter assemblies. To meet the criteria, houses must achieve a blower door test result of less than 2.5 air changes per hour at 50 pascals. Additionally, a balanced or hybrid mechanical ventilation system is required, avoiding reliance on negative pressure. Exposed roof rafters must be insulated by a minimum R-3 unless covered by drywall or a finished ceiling, although continuous insulation above the roof deck negates this requirement. All heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment, as well as ductwork, must be located within the building's thermal envelope. These changes aim to enhance energy efficiency standards in Illinois' residential and commercial buildings.

Bill Cunningham has proposed another four bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Cunningham graduated from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1990 with a BA.

Bill Cunningham is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 18th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Edward Maloney in 2013.

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.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB1179	01/24/2025	Amends the Energy Efficient Building Act. Provides that the Capital Development Board shall adopt specified provisions into the Illinois Energy Conservation Code concerning insulation in an unvented attic and an unvented enclosed rafter assemblies.
SB1180	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Provides that the Illinois Racing Board may appoint the Director of Mutuels to serve as the State director for inter-track wagering and simulcast wagering by inter-track wagering licensees and inter-track wagering location licensees. Provides that the pari-mutuel tax imposed at all pari-mutuel wagering facilities and on advance deposit wagering shall be remitted to the Board (rather than the Department of Revenue). Provides that the Board shall distribute contributed funds to a charitable organization on a schedule determined by the Board, based on the charitable organization's estimated expenditures related to the grant (rather than by December 31 of each year). Provides that any funds not expended by the grantee in a grant year shall be distributed to the charitable organization or charitable organizations selected in the next grant year after the funds are recovered. Repeals provisions authorizing the Board to make daily temporary deposits of certain fees and provisions requiring the Board and the Department of Agriculture to establish a program to conduct drug testing on horses at county fairs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
SB0145	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that provisions concerning a credit for foreign taxes shall be applied without regard to provisions concerning distributions of investment partnership income to nonresident partners. Effective immediately.
SB0146	01/17/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates a credit for certain small businesses in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 10% of the property taxes paid by the qualified small business during the taxable year for eligible real property or (ii) $1,500. Effective immediately.
SB0147	01/17/2025	Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that upon recovering a firearm that was (i) unlawfully possessed, (ii) used for any unlawful purpose, (iii) recovered from the scene of a crime, (iv) reasonably believed to have been used or associated with the commission of a crime, or (v) acquired by the law enforcement agency as an abandoned, lost, or discarded firearm, a law enforcement agency shall use the best available information, including a firearms trace (deletes when necessary), to determine how and from whom the person gained possession of the firearm and to determine prior ownership of the firearm. Provides that law enforcement shall use the National Tracing Center of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' eTrace platform or successor platform in complying with this provision. Provides that law enforcement shall participate in the National Tracing Center of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' eTrace platform or successor platform's collective data sharing program for the purpose of sharing firearm trace reports among all law enforcement agencies in this State on a reciprocal basis. Defines "peace officer" for the purpose of the investigation of specified offenses shall include investigators of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Effective immediately.