The IAAP is closely tracking more that 80 pieces of legislation in the Illinois House and Senate and advocating on the behalf of the mining industry this spring. At this time, we want to draw your attention to three issues that could result in major impacts.

House Bill 3158 (https://bit.ly/3b4pyYA) extends prevailing wage requirements to materials suppliers for public works projects. The bill’s sponsor is Representative Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) but Operating Engineers Local 150 is backing this legislation that would extend prevailing wage requirements beyond the public works job site to “laborers, workers, and mechanics engaged in the production, processing, reclamation, recycling, or manufacturing of materials when the value of the material used in the public works project is greater than $250,000.” In addition to increasing costs for public works projects, this legislation would be an administrative nightmare for aggregate producers and other public works suppliers. The IAAP is working building a coalition against this proposal.

HB 2767 (https://bit.ly/2ZZ4Tin), HB 3090 (https://bit.ly/3q6qmR9), and HB 3092 (https://bit.ly/37W5K7C) include a myriad of new permitting requirements for facilities located in “Environmental Justice” communities, including a provision to require operators obtaining or renewing an NPDES permit enter into a “community benefits agreement” with the local government where the facility is located before receiving the permit. The IAAP is part of a large coalition of groups aligned against these proposals. Environmental Justice initiatives are also expected from the U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA.

Four bills mandate groundwater monitoring at CCDD and uncontaminated soil fill sites: HB 653 (https://bit.ly/3b5BuJv), SB 546 (https://bit.ly/3r86pKP), SB 565 (https://bit.ly/3q3weu7), and SB 580 (https://bit.ly/3q5iNKu). These bills are identical to legislation filed last year. Senator John Connor (D-Crest Hill), who sponsored the legislation last year as a member of the House, is the sponsor of SB 546 and SB 580. SB 565 is sponsored by Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville), who also sponsored the legislation last year. New State Representative Dagmara Avelar (D-Joliet) is the sponsor of HB 653. The IAAP’s Clean Fill Division is actively engaged in fighting these proposals.Updated position papers are here (https://bit.ly/3bVWsdk).

Watch for alerts on these and other issues as the legislative session continues through the end of May. We will be asking members to contact their local legislators. Your grassroots involvement is critical to our legislative success. Additionally, IAAP is engaged with our Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) partners to protect road funding through the State’s budget making process.