The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Illinois’ leading small business advocacy organization, urges lawmakers to vote against multiple mandate expansions that will limit small businesses and reduce competition.

“Prevailing-wage mandates create administrative complexity and paperwork requirements for small contractors,” said NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley. “By raising the cost of doing business, these mandates effectively box smaller contractors out of public contracts, reducing opportunities for competition, cost containment, and innovation.”

Bill Numbers and synopses:

• SB 164 – Expands Illinois’ prevailing-wage mandate to federal construction projects administered or controlled by either the state government or a local government if the federal prevailing-wage rate is less than or equal to the state prevailing-wage rate. (Posted to Senate Labor Committee this week.)
• HB 1056 – Expands Illinois’ prevailing-wage mandate to include fixed works constructed or demolished on publicly owned property. (Posted to House Labor & Commerce Committee this week.)
• HB 1189 – Expands Illinois’ prevailing-wage mandate to federal construction projects administered or controlled by either the state government or a local government if the federal prevailing-wage rate is less than or equal to the state prevailing-wage rate. (Passed the House Labor & Commerce Committee last week.)
• HB 1247 – Expands Illinois’ prevailing-wage mandate to include sewer inspection projects that utilize a closed-circuit television to identify issues in a sewer system, such as cracks in pipes, root intrusion, or other structural damage. (Posted to House Labor & Commerce Committee this week.)