104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1271 Introduced , by Rep. Katie Stuart SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall, in consultation with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of that funding, with certain requirements. Provides for a continuing appropriation from the General Revenue Fund to the Office for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately. LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1271 Introduced , by Rep. Katie Stuart SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall, in consultation with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of that funding, with certain requirements. Provides for a continuing appropriation from the General Revenue Fund to the Office for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately. LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1271 Introduced , by Rep. Katie Stuart SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall, in consultation with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of that funding, with certain requirements. Provides for a continuing appropriation from the General Revenue Fund to the Office for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately. LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b A BILL FOR HB1271LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271 LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271 LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b 1 AN ACT concerning safety. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Fire Investigation Act is amended by adding 5 Section 13.1.1 as follows: 6 (425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new) 7 Sec. 13.1.1. MABAS continuing appropriation for warehouse 8 tornado disaster response. 9 (a) The General Assembly finds that, because of the 10 large-scale footprint of many large warehouse complexes in 11 this State, and because emergency responders face difficulties 12 in coordinating personnel and equipment from a variety of 13 agencies in a given geographic region to respond to tornado 14 disasters at large warehouse complexes, the State should 15 further invest moneys into the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System 16 (MABAS) to assist emergency responders with respect to 17 responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes 18 in this State. 19 (b) In this Section: 20 "Large warehouse complex" means one or more warehouses 21 at the same location, whose individual or combined 22 warehouse space is at least 400,000 square feet, operating 23 under the same management. 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1271 Introduced , by Rep. Katie Stuart SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall, in consultation with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of that funding, with certain requirements. Provides for a continuing appropriation from the General Revenue Fund to the Office for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately. LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b A BILL FOR 425 ILCS 25/13.1.1 new LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271 LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271- 2 -LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271 - 2 - LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271 - 2 - LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b 1 "Mutual Aid Box Alarm System" or "MABAS" means an 2 intergovernmental organization established under Section 3 10 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution and the 4 Intergovernmental Cooperation Act that, through 5 prearranged mutual aid and dispatch agreements among 6 participating units of local government, engages in 7 mutual-aid responses for the purpose of disaster 8 preparedness and response. 9 (c) Beginning July 1, 2026, the Office shall, in 10 consultation with MABAS, annually determine what funding is 11 necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties 12 that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and 13 equipment from participating agencies and units of local 14 government when responding to tornado disasters at large 15 warehouse complexes in this State. 16 (d) By July 1, 2026, the Office shall, in consultation 17 with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of the 18 funding provided under subsection (c) that considers the risk 19 of tornadoes, the total square footage of warehouse space at 20 large warehouse complexes, and the human population of the 21 large warehouse complexes during all working hours. 22 (e) Beginning July 1, 2026, there is hereby appropriated, 23 on a continuing annual basis in each fiscal year, from the 24 General Revenue Fund to the Office, to be distributed under 25 this Section or rules adopted under this Section for the 26 maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS, an HB1271 - 2 - LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271- 3 -LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271 - 3 - LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b HB1271 - 3 - LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b 1 amount equal to that determined under subsection (c) of this 2 Section. 3 (f) The Office shall adopt rules before July 1, 2026, 4 implementing this Section. HB1271 - 3 - LRB104 06208 BDA 16243 b