End of Session Wrap UP

HBAI End of Session Wrap-Up

by Bill Ward, HBAI Executive Vice President

Governor Bruce Rauner signed his first full-year budget since taking office in 2015, a $38.5 billion spending plan for the state of Illinois. But critics are quick to point to at least one blemish; a $380 million estimated cost savings deriving from state employees electing to switch from their current Tier 1 pension plan to alternative retirement plans.

In the weeks and months ahead, conversations on how this hole should be filled (if needed) and the talk for new taxation will begin anew. HBAI must be alert and ready this summer and fall to respond to tax plans that have been floated recently, such as the graduated income tax and the service tax on home repair work.

Government Advocacy & Political Action were never more important than now!

Here are the bills that HBAI addressed in the past 5 months on behalf of builders, remodelers, developers, and associates.

HB813 (Hoffman) 72 Hour Minimum Notice on Shift Changes. HBAI opposed; passed out of Labor Committee, not called on House floor.
HB2771 (C.Mitchell/Hutchinson) Requires employers to provide specified paid sick days. Construction work exempted, HBAI Neutral as amended. Bill lost on Concurrence Motion.
HB4244 (Sweeney) Would have allowed McHenry County to petition to dissolve its townships. HBAI supported, never received hearing in committee.
HB4268 (Thapedi/Mulroe) Would allow homeowners to pay subs directly and require Sworn Statement of Subs on property prior to construction. HBAI opposed. Amendment deleted direct payment to subs and requires a sworn statement, if asked, after job completion. HBAI Neutral as amended. Bill passed both Houses.
HB4324 (Welch/Lightford) Would allow employees to place a lien on the personal property of an employer for unpaid wages & benefits. HBAI opposed. Amended to allow employee to file for investigation with the DOL. Neutral as amended, bill failed in House on Concurrence.
HB4531 (Moylan) Takes option of bonding for public improvements from developers and gives authority to units of local government. HBAI opposed, defeated bill in the House 45-62.
HB4538 (Hays) Would have created a Natural Disaster Property Tax Deduction for homes rebuilt after natural disasters. HBAI supported, bill never received a hearing in committee.
HB4748 (Fortner/Rezin) Would have created storm water commissions in every county, HBAI opposed. Bill amended allowing 9 new counties to have commissions thru front-door referendum. HBAI neutral as amended, passed both Houses.
HB4872 (Lang) Would have doubled interest on non-payment of work comp. payments to hospitals. HBAI opposed, bill passed out of committee but was not called on House floor.
HB5046 (Welch) Would have imposed a 72 hour notification for changes in work schedule. HBAI opposed, bill was never heard in committee.
HB5201 (Ford/Castro) Pilot program allowing County Recorders to lift expired and invalid liens on residential property. HBAI opposed, amendment deleting “invalid” liens placed on bill, HBAI neutral as amended. Bill passed both Houses.
HB5293 (Costello) No state permit needed if property owner acquires a federal permit for an incidental taking under the Endangered Species Act. HBAI supported bill that passed out of committee but was not considered on House floor.
HB5727 (Walsh) Would have required a backdoor referendum on annexation agreements. HBAI opposed, bill failed in committee.
SB193 (Hoffman/Raul) Would have taken many duties of the Dept. of Labor to the Attorney General’s Office. HBAI opposed, bill was defeated in House on a Veto Override Motion.
SB202 (Castro) 72 hour notification for shift changes. HBAI opposed, bill passed committee but was held from consideration on Senate floor.
SB2213 (Biss/Stratton) Would have locked in federal regulations at 2017 levels on regulations repealed by the Trump Administration for environmental, public health, and natural resources permits.
SB2531 (Murphy) Would have required hiring an arborist and getting a DNR permit to save trees when building a home. HBAI opposed, bill never moved.
SB2555 (Althoff) Would have imposed severe property tax penalties on land owners pulling land from agriculture preservation programs. HBAI opposed, bill was never heard in committee.
SB2596 (Sandoval) Would have removed exemption for residential construction from the requirement that you must use a fire sprinkler contractor when installing a fire sprinkler system. HBAI opposed, sponsor held the bill at our request.
SB2621 (Mulroe) Would have extended lien notification to 90 days after complete construction for all subcontractors. HBAI opposed, sponsor held the bill at our request.
SB2826 (Althoff) Would have imposed a Practice Act on Landscape Architects. Builders would need sign off on all landscaping by a licensee. HBAI opposed, sponsor held the bill at our request.
SB2897 (Steans) would have initiated a Practice Act for Interior Designers by requiring a seal from designers on all construction. HBAI opposed, did not receive a vote in committee.
SB2999 (Van Pelt/Conyears-Ervin) Would have provided reimbursement of all expenses incurred by employee at workplace. HBAI opposed, amendment allow employers to write expressed language in employee manual on what is reimbursable. HBAI neutral as amended.
SB3005 (Raul) Would have allowed third party petitions for judicial review on state permits. HBAI opposed, bill passed in committee but was held from consideration on the Senate floor.
SB3061 (Murphy) Would have required two public hearings on all land being annexed under 60 acres. HBAI opposed, bill did not get a vote.
SB3156 (Aquino/C. Mitchell) Would have required all EPA investigations to be forwarded to the Attorney General. HBAI opposed, language was amended from the bill.

HBAI End of Session Wrap-Up

by Bill Ward, HBAI Executive Vice President

Government Advocacy & Political Action were never more important than now!

Here are the bills that HBAI addressed in the past 5 months on behalf of builders, remodelers, developers, and associates.

HB813 (Hoffman) 72 Hour Minimum Notice on Shift Changes. HBAI opposed; passed out of Labor Committee, not called on House floor.

HB2771 (C.Mitchell/Hutchinson) Requires employers to provide specified paid sick days. Construction work exempted, HBAI Neutral as amended. Bill lost on Concurrence Motion.

HB4244 (Sweeney) Would have allowed McHenry County to petition to dissolve its townships. HBAI supported, never received hearing in committee.

HB4324 (Welch/Lightford) Would allow employees to place a lien on the personal property of an employer for unpaid wages & benefits. HBAI opposed. Amended to allow employee to file for investigation with the DOL. Neutral as amended, bill failed in House on Concurrence.

HB4531 (Moylan) Takes option of bonding for public improvements from developers and gives authority to units of local government. HBAI opposed, defeated bill in the House 45-62.

HB4538 (Hays) Would have created a Natural Disaster Property Tax Deduction for homes rebuilt after natural disasters. HBAI supported, bill never received a hearing in committee.

HB4748 (Fortner/Rezin) Would have created storm water commissions in every county, HBAI opposed. Bill amended allowing 9 new counties to have commissions thru front-door referendum. HBAI neutral as amended, passed both Houses.

HB4872 (Lang) Would have doubled interest on non-payment of work comp. payments to hospitals. HBAI opposed, bill passed out of committee but was not called on House floor.

HB5046 (Welch) Would have imposed a 72 hour notification for changes in work schedule. HBAI opposed, bill was never heard in committee.

HB5201 (Ford/Castro) Pilot program allowing County Recorders to lift expired and invalid liens on residential property. HBAI opposed, amendment deleting “invalid” liens placed on bill, HBAI neutral as amended. Bill passed both Houses.

HB5293 (Costello) No state permit needed if property owner acquires a federal permit for an incidental taking under the Endangered Species Act. HBAI supported bill that passed out of committee but was not considered on House floor.

HB5727 (Walsh) Would have required a backdoor referendum on annexation agreements. HBAI opposed, bill failed in committee.

SB193 (Hoffman/Raul) Would have taken many duties of the Dept. of Labor to the Attorney General’s Office. HBAI opposed, bill was defeated in House on a Veto Override Motion.

SB202 (Castro) 72 hour notification for shift changes. HBAI opposed, bill passed committee but was held from consideration on Senate floor.

SB2213 (Biss/Stratton) Would have locked in federal regulations at 2017 levels on regulations repealed by the Trump Administration for environmental, public health, and natural resources permits.

SB2531 (Murphy) Would have required hiring an arborist and getting a DNR permit to save trees when building a home. HBAI opposed, bill never moved.

SB2555 (Althoff) Would have imposed severe property tax penalties on land owners pulling land from agriculture preservation programs. HBAI opposed, bill was never heard in committee.

SB2596 (Sandoval) Would have removed exemption for residential construction from the requirement that you must use a fire sprinkler contractor when installing a fire sprinkler system. HBAI opposed, sponsor held the bill at our request.

SB2621 (Mulroe) Would have extended lien notification to 90 days after complete construction for all subcontractors. HBAI opposed, sponsor held the bill at our request.

SB2826 (Althoff) Would have imposed a Practice Act on Landscape Architects. Builders would need sign off on all landscaping by a licensee. HBAI opposed, sponsor held the bill at our request.

SB2897 (Steans) would have initiated a Practice Act for Interior Designers by requiring a seal from designers on all construction. HBAI opposed, did not receive a vote in committee.

SB2999 (Van Pelt/Conyears-Ervin) Would have provided reimbursement of all expenses incurred by employee at workplace. HBAI opposed, amendment allow employers to write expressed language in employee manual on what is reimbursable. HBAI neutral as amended.

SB3005 (Raul) Would have allowed third party petitions for judicial review on state permits. HBAI opposed, bill passed in committee but was held from consideration on the Senate floor.

SB3061 (Murphy) Would have required two public hearings on all land being annexed under 60 acres. HBAI opposed, bill did not get a vote.

SB3156 (Aquino/C. Mitchell) Would have required all EPA investigations to be forwarded to the Attorney General. HBAI opposed, language was amended from the bill.

For more information on these initiatives, call or write Bill Ward at (217) 753-3963, or billward@hbai.org.