Timothy R. Knudsen

Timothy R. Knudsen is the alderperson for Chicago's 43rd Ward.

Contact

Email: Ward43@cityofchicago.org
Ward office: 2523 North Halsted Street, Chicago 60614, (773) 348-9500
City Hall: 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 200, (312) 744-3071/5685
Website: https://ward43.org
Updates: RSS feed of votes and legislation

Voting record this term

Attendance: 100% of 1144 key roll calls (0 absent)
Nay votes: 8
Voted with the majority on 90% of 90 divided votes
Legislation filed as lead sponsor: 41 (28 passed)
Most-filed topics: Municipal Code Amendments (11), Signs/Signboards (9), Streets (6), Alley (5), Budget & Appropriations (2)

Committees

AI profile

AI-written synthesis from this member's votes, legislation, and words in 78 meetings. Each claim cites its source; estimates, not statements of intent.

Timothy R. Knudsen, Alderman of Chicago’s 43rd Ward, has a 100 % attendance record and serves as Vice Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy while sitting on numerous other committees. He has filed 41 pieces of legislation, ranging from redevelopment approvals to honorary street designations, and voted YES on the vast majority of measures, with only eight NO votes, including opposition to a general-obligation bond ordinance V29. His record shows consistent support for tax-increment financing for development projects, housing code reforms, and police accountability measures, and he led the presentation of the Prediction Market Ordinance to the Ethics and Government Oversight Committee V1 S1.

Priorities

Ethics and Government Oversight: Authored and presented the Prediction Market Ordinance, explaining its purpose and securing agency support S1 S2 S5
Economic Development – Tax Increment Financing: Supported multiple TIF agreements for redevelopment and park improvements, and filed a redevelopment approval for the Blues Legacy Resubdivision V1 V3 V5 V15 L1
Housing Policy: Backed amendments allowing the Housing Commissioner to waive building debts and requiring landlord notice before lease termination V2 V13
Police Accountability: Voted to prohibit Chicago Police Department members from political contributions, reflecting a focus on police reform V9
Parking and Traffic Safety: Filed a parking-meter relocation and removal project and supported a pilot program for resident-submitted recorded evidence of traffic violations L11 V24

Positions

Tax Increment Financing for development projects: Voted YES on multiple TIF agreements, indicating support for using TIF to fund redevelopment and park improvements V1 V3 V5 V15 V18 V20
Housing debt waivers: Supported an amendment authorizing the Commissioner of Housing to waive debts for certain buildings V2
Police political contributions: Voted YES to prohibit police department members from making political contributions V9
Social media amusement tax: Voted YES on an amendment adding a social media amusement tax to the municipal code V6
Employer gratuity allowance: Voted YES to modify timelines for employer allowance minimums in hourly wage occupations receiving gratuities V7
General Obligation Bonds: Voted NO on the issuance of general-obligation bonds for capital projects V29
Public enforcement pilot for recorded evidence: Voted YES on establishing a pilot program allowing residents to submit recorded evidence of violations V24
Honorary street designations: Filed multiple honorary street designation proposals, reflecting support for commemorative naming L5 L7 L10

Approach: In committee hearings he presented the Prediction Market Ordinance, explained its scope, cited relevant case law, noted agency backing, and then opened the floor for questions from other members S1 S2 S3 S5 S7.

What to watch: He is likely to continue focusing on ethics-related legislation such as the Prediction Market Ordinance and on using tax-increment financing for redevelopment projects in his ward S1 V1.

Nay votes on key legislation

Dec 19, 2025: Issuance of general obligation bonds for capital projects and other purposes (2026-2027 General Obligation Borrowing Ordinance), Passed 39 yea, 11 nay
Mar 12, 2025: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 4 by adding new Chapter 4-401 entitled "Trade In Fur Products", Failed to Pass 19 yea, 26 nay
Feb 26, 2025: Issuance of general obligation bonds to finance improvements to public rights-of-way, infrastructure and transportation, loans and grants, acquisition of property, construction and maintenance of public buildings, economic programs, lead service line replacements, as amended, Passed 26 yea, 23 nay
Dec 16, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 3, 4, 9 and 10 (2025 Municipal Code Revenue Ordinance) and Property Tax Levy for Year 2025, as amended, Passed 27 yea, 23 nay
May 22, 2024: Amendment of Municipal Code Title 17 by modifying various sections regarding permit specifications and location restrictions for cannabis business establishments, Passed 47 yea, 1 nay, 2 absent
Feb 15, 2024: Adoption of arbitration option in certain police disciplinary cases, Failed to Pass 18 yea, 32 nay
Jan 31, 2024: Expression of support for United Nations Resolution 377 known as "Uniting for Peace", Adopted 23 yea, 23 nay
Nov 7, 2023: Proposal of new tax rates for Chicago R.E. transfer tax to set aside for homeless housing, Passed 32 yea, 17 nay

Key legislation sponsored

Call on Department of Transportation to rename Lincoln Central Park to 'Deirdre's Garden' in honor of Deirdre Graziano (R2026-0027468), Adopted Sep 23, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-9-0111.5 to include religious assembly in non-accessory parking restrictions in RT4 and higher zoning districts (SO2026-0024882), Passed Sep 23, 2026
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-156-070 prohibiting use or disclosure of confidential information by current or former City official or employee for prediction markets or event-based contracts (SO2026-0025003), Passed Jul 15, 2026
Recognition of collaboration initiative regarding Rat Contraceptive Pilot Program by 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen, Chicago Bird Alliance, Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute, Department of Streets and Sanitation, and their partners (SR2025-0018763), Adopted Feb 18, 2026
Diversey and Lincoln Liquor Moratorium Amendment (O2025-0018058), Passed Jul 16, 2025
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 17-14-0301-A allowing designation of alternate member to Zoning Board of Appeals in event of vacancy (SO2024-0010982), Passed Oct 9, 2024
Municipal code 8-4-083 amendment for hate material or actions on private real or personal property (SO2024-0008939), Passed Jul 17, 2024
Amendment of Municipal Code Section 4-60-073 by authorizing issuance of lakefront venue liquor license for concrete pad at beach house at North Avenue Beach (SO2024-0007860), Passed Mar 20, 2024
Historical landmark fee waiver for property at 1618 N Cleveland Ave (Or2023-0002921), Passed Sep 14, 2021

In their own words

Moments from meeting recordings, summarized by AI from the transcript. Each links to the video at that point.

Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Called Corporation Counsel Lowry a trusted advisor and praised her global settlement. (watch at 3:06:51)
Sep 23, 2026, City Council: Said ICE activity continues and urged rapid responders to take care of themselves given the emotional toll. (watch at 2:20:47)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Recognized the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit's 25th anniversary and called for continued investment in public art. (watch at 1:29:03)
Jul 15, 2026, City Council: Honored the late Alan Mellis of the Wrightwood Neighbors Association for his work in Lincoln Park. (watch at 1:27:06)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Opened the floor for questions from committee members. (watch at 21:09)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Thanked Christopher Kolb for the memo and yielded remaining time. (watch at 20:50)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Stated that the Department of Law, Department of Ethics, and Office of the Inspector General all support the ordinance. (watch at 20:26)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Noted that Governor Pritzker has adopted a similar approach for state employees. (watch at 19:52)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Cited a federal case where confidential information was used for market profit. (watch at 18:43)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Clarified that the ordinance does not change existing ethics rules but extends them to prediction markets. (watch at 17:43)
Jul 7, 2026, Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight: Presented the Prediction Market Ordinance, explaining its purpose and scope. (watch at 17:21)
May 20, 2026, City Council: Supported the Jewish American Heritage resolution and committed to legislation addressing hate speech such as the Stop Hate Littering ordinance. (watch at 1:51:54)