All you need to know about the Sunshine Bill

In January, a crucial bill calling for mandatory solar on new homes has its first debate in parliament, and you can help us give it every chance of being passed. Keep reading to find out how you can get involved, and to learn more about the Sunshine Bill.

What is the Sunshine Bill?

The Sunshine Bill, or ‘New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill,’ is a private members bill by Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham. The bill aims to make solar panels standard in all new homes.

The Sunshine Bill will have its ‘Second Reading’ on Friday 17 January 2025, meaning it has already been presented to parliament. Crucially, now is the first opportunity for debate.

If successful, the bill would enter a ‘Committee Stage’ for detailed examination. Each stage of the bill’s journey increases its chances of becoming a law, moving us closer to unleashing the full potential of rooftop solar in England.

Either way, there will still be other opportunities to advocate for rooftop solar via the government’s plans to improve home standards. Find out more about the bill and its journey through parliament here.

What is a private members bill?

A private members bill in the House of Commons is a bill introduced by a member of parliament (MP) who is not part of the government. The Sunshine Bill emerged through the ‘ballot’, where MP Max Wilkinson’s name was drawn, allowing him to introduce his own bill and have a full day’s debate.

We urgently need your help to give the bill every chance of success. The ‘Second Reading’ debate on 17 January is scheduled to run until 2:30pm. If it’s not concluded by this time, any MP can shout ‘object,’ making further progress unlikely.

MPs can speak for as long as they like in this debate to ensure time runs out. This is because private members bills do not have a set timetable for debate. The bill can only be voted on if MPs vote to end the debate and move to a vote – which requires a majority and at least 100 MPs to be present.

What you can do

You can help the Sunshine Bill pass through Parliament by asking your MP to attend the debate on Friday, 17 January 2025. We need at least 100 MPs who support the bill to show up and ensure that it passes its ‘Second Reading’ and moves to the next stage. Email your MP through our action page – we’ll also be urging MPs across all parties to be present.

You can also learn more about the vast potential of rooftop solar and share the importance of this bill with friends and family. According to our research, 60% of the UK’s current solar energy targets could be delivered on rooftops. The Sunshine Bill can play a major part in cutting sky-high bills and carbon emissions.