Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB3652

HB3652 Engrossed LRB104 09741 BDA 19807 b

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Fuel Gas Alarm Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Covered building" means any residential, commercial, or institutional structure that contains one or more gas-fueled appliances, including stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and dryers, and has an active natural gas or liquefied propane gas service connection.

"Fuel gas alarm" means a device that is designed to detect natural gas or liquefied propane gas and provide an audible alarm, visual alarm, or a combination; that has been tested and listed by a nationally recognized independent testing laboratory; that conforms to either Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 1484 or Standard 2075; and that is labeled with a visible ETL or UL certification indicating the device conforms to either UL Standard 1484 or UL Standard 2075.

"Single and multifamily dwelling" means a building with one or more residential units. "Single and multifamily dwelling" includes an apartment, condominium, or townhome.

Section 10. Installation requirements.

(a) All covered buildings must have at least one fuel gas alarm in each room containing a gas appliance, in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 715, Standard for the Installation of Fuel Gases Alarm and Warning Equipment, and the fuel gas alarm manufacturer's instructions.

(b) All new covered buildings and covered buildings that have undergone major renovations must include hardwired or battery-powered fuel gas alarms for enhanced safety. Single and multifamily dwellings must have individual unit alarms installed in every room containing a gas appliance in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 715, Standard for the Installation of Fuel Gases Alarm and Warning Equipment.

(c) Battery-powered fuel gas alarms are allowed in existing buildings and where hardwiring is otherwise infeasible. Battery-powered and plug-in fuel gas alarms do not need to be interconnected or monitored, unless an applicable building code dictates otherwise. Battery-powered alarms must have a minimum lifespan of 6 years and include an end-of-life warning mechanism.

Section 15. Compliance and implementation.

(a) All covered buildings must comply with the requirements of this Act on or before January 1, 2028.

(b) Compliance with the requirements of this Act shall be verified during certificate of occupancy issuance for new buildings, rental license renewals, and fire safety inspections for existing buildings.

(c) A person who is not an electrician may install a battery-powered or plug-in fuel gas alarm, but a licensed electrician must install a hardwired fuel gas alarm system.

Section 20. Transfer of property requirements. A person who, after January 1, 2027, acquires by sale or exchange a covered building must install fuel gas alarms within 30 days of acquisition or occupancy, whichever is later, if compliant fuel gas alarms are not already present. A transfer of real property that includes a covered building shall include a certification that fuel gas alarms are or will be installed, with the certification signed and dated by the buyer. Fuel gas alarms shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 715, Standard for the Installation of Fuel Gases Alarm and Warning Equipment. A certification of compliance with this Act must be provided at the time of sale or lease of any covered building or any part of any covered building.

Section 25. Funding for low-income households. A State Fuel Gas Safety Assistance Fund is established as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund may accept moneys from any lawful source. Any interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall be deposited into the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide free or subsidized fuel gas alarms to low-income households. The State Fire Marshall shall establish, by rule, a program to provide free or subsidized gas alarms to low-income households.

Section 30. Penalties and enforcement. A violation of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act is a petty offense. The Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Attorney General, or the State's Attorney of the county where the violation occurred may enforce this Act.

Section 35. Local government grants. Subject to appropriation, the Office of the State Fire Marshal may award grants to units of local governments to implement enhanced enforcement and education programs for the purposes of this Act. The State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules providing for processes and criteria for the awarding of grants to units of local government under this Section.

Section 40. Gas Detector Alliance. The Gas Detector Alliance is created within the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Gas Detector Alliance shall consist of members appointed by the State Fire Marshal. The membership of the Gas Detector Alliance shall be composed of one representative of the National Fire Protection Association, the Illinois Professional Firefighters Association, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, the Illinois Rural Fire Association, the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, and the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts and 3 representatives of gas utilities operating in this State. The Gas Detector Alliance shall make recommendations to the Office of the State Fire Marshal concerning the effectiveness of this Act and any changes in legislation or rules that the Gas Detector Alliance believes are necessary to effectuate the purpose of this Act.

Section 45. Home rule. A home rule unit may not regulate fuel gas alarm installation in a manner less restrictive than the regulation of fuel gas alarm installation under this Act. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

Section 50. Rulemaking. The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules implementing this Act.

Section 90. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1030 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1030 new)

Sec. 5.1030. The State Fuel Gas Safety Assistance Fund.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.