Gov. JB Pritzker has signed two more bills into law that are of interest to those in the real estate industry.

Rooftop Safety for First Responders Act

The first, Senate Bill 1742, enacts the Rooftop Safety for First Responders Act, which aims to improve rooftop safety—particularly skylights and other openings—for firefighters operating during rooftop emergencies. The legislation was introduced following a fatal firefighter incident in a suburban community.

REALTORS® opposed a similar proposal in 2024 that would have prohibited skylights on residential properties, raising concerns among stakeholders. This year’s version, introduced by Sen. Mike Porfirio (D-Burbank), was more broadly supported after a key amendment addressed those concerns.

As introduced, the bill required skylights to meet the International Building Code’s live load standards. Through negotiations, Illinois REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Team offered a compromise, which was adopted.

The revised language now requires that skylights and similar openings on low-sloped roofs, unless otherwise required by law to remain unobstructed, must either: (A) be glazed with wired glass, plain glass, glass block, or polycarbonate plastic designed and constructed to withstand a minimum dynamic load of 400 pounds; or (B) be protected by a parapet, extended masonry, guard, or a combination of these, in compliance with applicable safety standards.

Illinois REALTORS® appreciates the adoption of this balanced approach. Signed on Aug. 1, 2025, the law does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2026.

Task Force on Interjurisdictional Industrial Zoning Impacts Membership

The second bill to be signed into law, Senate Bill 2506, establishes membership for the Task Force on Interjurisdictional Industrial Zoning Impacts.

The legislation was introduced by Sen. Julie Morrison (D, Deerfield) and the Illinois REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Team monitored the bill throughout the Spring Session. This measure had an immediate effective date and became law on Aug. 1, 2025. Both of the laws will be assigned a Public Act number soon.