SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s measure to give law enforcement stronger tools to track down the criminals bringing illegal guns into Illinois neighborhoods was signed into law.

“This will give the police the tools they need to track down illegal guns and the criminals that traffic them into our communities,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Tracing guns used in crimes and sharing data across jurisdictions will help solve crimes and keep dangerous individuals off our streets.”

Under current law, firearm tracing is limited to specific scenarios. Cunningham’s measure broadens that scope by requiring firearm tracing in all cases where a gun is recovered at the scene of a crime, is used unlawfully or is believed to be associated with a crime. The new law also asks every law enforcement agency in Illinois to participate in the federal eTrace program, providing investigators with faster, more complete data on gun origins, trafficking patterns and crime links. This will ensure consistent reporting and firearm tracing across all counties, helping to close investigative loopholes and make communities safer statewide.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham advanced a bill through the Senate that gives law enforcement stronger tools to track down the criminals bringing illegal guns into Illinois neighborhoods.

“This is about giving our police the tools they need to track down illegal guns and the people that traffic them into our communities,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “When we can trace more guns and share more data across jurisdictions, we can solve more crimes and keep more dangerous individuals off our streets.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham advanced a measure that would ensure protected leave for employees whose newborns require intensive care after birth.

“Parents shouldn’t have to choose between keeping their job and sitting by their baby’s side in the NICU,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This measure provides working people the breathing room they need during a medical crisis.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham advanced a measure that would specifically set aside funding for the city of Chicago to purchase and repair emergency service vehicles like firetrucks and ambulances.

“When there is an emergency, people want to know that a working fire truck and ambulance are going to arrive at the scene,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This measure will ensure that funds collected from ambulance rides will be used to upgrade emergency service vehicles and not be raided for other purposes.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham advanced a measure to ban unregulated wagering at arcades like Dave & Buster’s. 

“We have been extremely careful with how we regulate gambling in Illinois, whether that is on sports, table games or video poker,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Arcades marketed as family fun shouldn’t be in the business of exposing minors to gambling.”

Last year, the family amusement company Dave & Buster’s announced it would begin allowing adult rewards customers to bet against each other in arcades. Cunningham’s legislation would prohibit family amusement establishments like Dave & Buster’s from promoting or facilitating wagering on games.

“I’d like to see the state deal with this issue before it becomes a problem,” said Cunningham. “Arcade places are not built to oversee unregulated gambling activities.”

House Bill 2724 passed the Senate Executive Committee.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham has received the Reuben Soderstrom Award for being a labor champion.

“Unions represent an essential pillar for protecting Illinois workers and our communities as a whole,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Standing in solidarity with labor is something one should do regardless of recognition, but I am happy to accept the award and encourage my colleagues to keep up the good fight.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham held a press conference Tuesday to introduce legislation aimed to address a projected energy deficit for Illinois.

“With energy prices skyrocketing across the country and leaders in Washington opening the floodgates for fossil fuels, our bill makes it clear that Illinois will remain at the forefront of lowering energy costs while investing in clean energy,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This legislation proves to the nation that we don’t have to choose between taking care of our communities, our economy, or our planet.”

Senate Bill 2497 would address Illinois’ energy crisis caused by rapid inflation and steep tariffs on many goods used to build and maintain energy infrastructure. The bill would also address and rectify significant delays in connecting clean energy projects to regional energy grids.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s energy package to put Illinois on a path to reach its climate goals, meet increasing electricity demand and provide reliability for residents is one step closer to becoming law.

“This is a very important next step in energy policy in Illinois,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “We will not be able to meet the increasing demand for electricity in our state without a robust energy storage plan.”

Energy storage is the capture of electricity produced at one time for use at a later time by storing it in a rechargeable battery.