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HB 2961

BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE ACT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Will Davis and 6 co-sponsors

HB 2961 requires public construction PLAs to hit workforce goals for BEP, veterans, or county demographics (10% then 15% by 2026), add OSHA 10, pre-apprenticeships, and benefits.

Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Willie Preston
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Bill Summary · HB 2961

HB 2961 — “Best Interest of the State Act” (Illinois) — Summary

Note: the provided document includes an unrelated Arizona taxation header; the substantive text and bill history below pertain to Illinois HB 2961 (2025–2026 General Assembly), introduced by Rep. William “Will” Davis.

Main purpose

HB 2961 would require certain construction projects that use project labor agreements (PLAs) to meet specific workforce, training, benefit, and prequalification requirements designed to increase access for historically underrepresented groups (including minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities), expand apprenticeship and pre‑apprenticeship access (including for individuals with barriers to employment), and strengthen worker protections on covered public construction projects.

Key provisions

  • Defines terms (project labor agreement, collective bargaining unit, individuals with barriers to employment, Commission on Equity and Inclusion, etc.).
  • Workforce participation goals:
    • For collective bargaining units on covered projects: at least 10% of workers meeting State definitions for Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities (BEP) or veterans (or an alternative target equal to the county’s demographic makeup) as of the Act’s effective date.
    • Increase to at least 15% on or after January 1, 2026.
    • Parallel employer/contractor/subcontractor workforce percentage requirements (10% initially; 15% from Jan 1, 2026).
  • Training and safety:
    • Workers on covered projects must complete OSHA 10 safety training.
    • Collective bargaining units, contractors, or subcontractors must provide or participate in pre‑apprenticeship programs targeted to Illinois residents who are individuals with barriers to employment, coordinated with local workforce investment offices or community-based organizations.
  • Benefits and pension requirements:
    • Collective bargaining units must provide ERISA‑compliant health and benefit plans not listed by the U.S. DOL as being in “critical,” “declining,” or “endangered” status.
    • Pension plans serving covered employees must meet similar ERISA/compliance and multiemployer‑plan status requirements.
  • Prequalification with the Commission on Equity and Inclusion:
    • Collective bargaining units, contractors, and subcontractors may prequalify by certifying compliance with Act requirements and absence of debarment; prequalification can allow them (subject to rules) to hire their own workers and fund benefits in certain ways.
  • Administrative and enforcement features:
    • Directs the Commission on Equity and Inclusion to determine county “demographic makeup” for alternative workforce goals.
    • Establishes complaint procedures to the Commission and penalties for noncompliance.
  • Fiscal/other: Amends the State Finance Act to create a Local Construction Training and Development Fund; makes conforming changes to the Project Labor Agreements Act and Commission on Equity and Inclusion Act. No dollar amounts specified in the text excerpts.

Who would be affected

  • Collective bargaining units, labor organizations, contractors, and subcontractors on public construction projects requiring PLAs.
  • Construction workers and apprentices, particularly those from BEP‑eligible groups, veterans, persons with disabilities, and individuals with barriers to employment.
  • The Commission on Equity and Inclusion and local workforce agencies/community organizations (for program delivery and enforcement).

Implementation timing and deadlines

  • The bill states it is effective immediately.
  • Initial workforce targets (10%) apply as of the Act’s effective date; increased targets (15%) apply on or after January 1, 2026.
  • Several provisions reference compliance windows (the text contains multiple 180‑day references in the excerpt).

Legislative status (from provided history)

  • Introduced: February 6–18, 2025 (filed by Rep. William “Will” Davis).
  • Passed both chambers (House and Senate) in June 2025 and transmitted to the Governor.
  • Vetoed by the Governor on June 25, 2025.
  • Sponsor information: primary sponsors included Rep. William “Will” Davis and (later listed) Sen. Willie Preston as alternate chief sponsor; cosponsors include Kevin Schmidt, Marcus C. Evans, Jr., Sonya M. Harper, Camille Y. Lilly, and Debbie Meyers‑Martin.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Aims to expand workforce diversity and training pipelines into construction trades; could increase apprenticeship/pre‑apprenticeship opportunities for underrepresented and disadvantaged populations.
  • Would impose additional compliance, hiring, benefit, and reporting obligations on employers and labor organizations engaged in covered PLA projects; potential administrative and cost impacts for employers and funds.
  • Enforcement through the Commission on Equity and Inclusion and penalties may create new administrative processes for disputes and oversight.
  • Financial implications include creation of a training fund, though specific funding levels are not specified in the excerpts provided.

For legal or operational implementation details, stakeholders should consult the full enrolled bill text and any committee analyses.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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