SPRINGFIELD – A new law led by State Senator Laura Murphy will help families near O’Hare Airport deal with noise pollution was signed into law by Governor Pritzker.
“I continually hear from residents about the need to expand the sound insulation program. As runways have shifted many find their homes in a very different flight pattern,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Through this law, we ensure the program stays updated to provide eligible households assistance from increased noise as a result of O’Hare’s modernization program.”
Murphy’s Senate Bill 4041 requires O’Hare and Midway airports to conduct studies every five years on eligibility for residential sound insulation programs. The studies use modern modeling techniques to collect data, aiming to ensure every household exposed to excessive noise from the airports is eligible for sound insulation assistance.
The law addresses the impact of the Airport Modernization Program at O’Hare Airport, which plans to add three million square feet of new space and an increase of 25% to gate capacity by 2034.
The Residential Sound Insulation Program covers the areas around O’Hare and Midway, helping to insulate homes and reduce noise from airplanes that disturbs residents. Since its establishment, the RSIP has insulated more than 12,000 homes near O’Hare Airport, which borders Murphy’s district.
Senate Bill 4041 was signed into law on Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
