HBAI Lobby Day A BIG Success!
Bill Ward, Executive Vice President
Builders and Associates came to Springfield in numbers we haven’t seen in years for the 29th Annual HBAI Lobby Day held on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. Over 100 members answered the call to protect your business and the home construction & remodeling industry. Our message to the Illinois House & Senate seemed to be: The Housing Industry is in bad shape, don’t make it worse!
Members were treated to a conversation with Senate Republican Leader, Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) in the morning Briefing Session. Bill talked about the state budget, workers compensation reform, and the importance to re-elect Republican Governor Bruce Rauner.
HBAI President Patrick Franz presented our members with facts and figures on housing’s contributions to our state’s economy, comparing today’s employment levels, income generation, and tax receipts to the numbers we generated back in 2005. These numbers truly amazed, not only our members, but especially the legislators who believed our industry is back and thriving again.
HBAI Treasurer, Jason Paliatka, recognized all our HomePAC donors who had contributed $100 or more to our political action fund, so far this year. Several members in the audience took Jason’s plea to heart and signed up to be a HomePAC member during lunch. Commitments totaling $1250 were turned in to HBAI staff.
Our afternoon was filled with legislative meetings at the State Capitol talking to legislators on the following topics:
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Pass legislation prohibiting the collection of local transfer taxes on homes that are assessed impact fees (HB3826).
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Oppose a Practice Act for Interior Designers (SB2897).
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Oppose Legislation Extending Deadlines to notify property owners of lien filings (SB2621).
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Oppose legislation that repeals the Bonding Options developers now have to insure completion of public improvement projects (HB4531).
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Defeat legislation requiring 72-hour notification to employees prior to changing work hours (HB5046).
Once again, The Sangamo Club was our host for our Briefing Session, legislative luncheon, and the HBAI Lobby Day Reception. The Sangamo Club is located just two blocks from the Capitol, a five-minute walk at most.
First-time participants, for which there were many, expressed the ease in understanding our position papers and appreciated the assistance they received from veteran lobby day participants in making their way through the Illinois State Capitol and the Stratton Office Building.
I want to thank everyone who participated in HBAI Lobby Day and encourage those who stayed home this year to pencil in our day in Springfield for 2019. We will make a formal announcement in December on our next Lobby Day, which will likely be in late April or early May 2019.
