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HB 3541

ILLINOIS CLIMATE WORKS PROGRAM

104th Regular Session Introduced by Murri Briel and 6 co-sponsors

Creates funded Climate Works Hubs to recruit, train, and place pre-apprentices in clean energy and construction trades with strong equity and regional focus.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · HB 3541

Summary — HB 3541 (Illinois Climate Works Program)

Status: Introduced 2/28/2025; Passed House 4/10/2025 (92–21); Arrived in Senate 4/14/2025; Re‑referred to Assignments (Rule 3‑9(a)) 6/2/2025. Chief House sponsor: Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.; Chief Senate sponsor: Sen. Steve Stadelman. Multiple House amendments (including Floor Amendment No. 2) were filed and adopted.

Purpose

HB 3541 amends the Energy Transition Act (20 ILCS 730/5‑40) to define and prescribe operation of the Illinois Climate Works Pre‑Apprenticeship Program. The bill aims to build a diverse pipeline of workers for construction, building trades, and clean energy apprenticeships by funding regional “Climate Works Hubs” that recruit, prescreen, train, and provide stipends to pre‑apprentices.

Key provisions

  • Program administration: The Department identified in the Energy Transition Act shall administer the Illinois Climate Works Pre‑Apprenticeship Program through Regional Administrators and funded Climate Works Hubs.
  • Hubs and grants:
    • Grants awarded to Climate Works Hubs covering the State’s IDOT regions; a single eligible organization may serve as the Hub for all five regions.
    • Grants may be multi‑year up to 36 months: initial 1‑year term, renewable for two additional years based on performance.
  • Recruitment, training, stipends:
    • Hubs must recruit, prescreen, and provide pre‑apprenticeship training relevant to clean‑energy apprenticeships in construction and building trades.
    • Participants may attend free of charge and may receive stipends (amounts may vary by occupation).
    • Hubs must provide information on career opportunities and relevant certifications.
  • Placement and equity requirements:
    • At least one‑third of placements (in Hub sites where applicant pools allow) must be dedicated to applicants residing in areas that are both (i) R3 Areas (Cannabis Regulation & Tax Act) and (ii) environmental justice communities (per Illinois Power Agency) — and impacted by economic/environmental challenges.
    • At least two‑thirds of program placements must go to applicants meeting the criteria above or residing in areas that are either an R3 Area or an environmental justice community (or otherwise impacted).
    • Among qualified applicants, preference is given to those facing employment barriers (low educational attainment, criminal‑justice involvement, language barriers) and to foster‑care graduates/enrollees (foster‑care applicants are prioritized regardless of residence).
    • Remaining placements prioritized to displaced energy workers (per Energy Community Reinvestment Act), persons with barriers to employment, and foster‑care graduates/enrollees.
  • Curriculum preference:
    • Priority in Hub selection is given to Hubs that agree to use the NABTU Multi‑Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) or successor curriculum.
  • Reporting:
    • Each Hub receiving Energy Transition Assistance Fund support must submit an annual report to the Illinois Works Review Panel by April 1 listing recruitment/training activities, demographic breakdowns (race, gender, age, veteran status), application-to‑placement/completion figures, and one‑year retention/journeyman outcomes.
  • Funding and rulemaking:
    • Program funding is subject to appropriation from the Energy Transition Assistance Fund.
    • The administering Department must adopt rules necessary to implement the Section.
  • Sunset: The statutory section remains scheduled for repeal on September 15, 2045 (per existing statute language).

Who is affected

  • Prospective participants: residents interested in clean energy and construction trades apprenticeships, especially those in designated impacted communities, displaced energy workers, justice‑involved individuals, limited‑English speakers, and foster‑care graduates.
  • Community‑based organizations and eligible entities that may serve as regional Climate Works Hubs and receive grants.
  • Labor organizations (NABTU) potentially engaged through curriculum agreements.
  • State agencies administering grants, reporting, and rulemaking.

Potential impact

HB 3541 clarifies program eligibility, equity targets, regional grant structure, reporting requirements, and encourages standardized pre‑apprenticeship curriculum adoption. If funded, it is designed to expand targeted workforce development for clean energy and trades work while prioritizing historically underserved and transition‑impacted communities. Funding and implementation depend on appropriations and subsequent rulemaking.

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

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