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Bill

HB 2985

Relating to the Public Utility Commission.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Gamba and 2 co-sponsors

Expands eligible pre-apprenticeship providers (including high schools) and tailors funding by region to strengthen targeted, registered construction apprenticeship pipelines.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · HB 2985

HB 2985 — Relating to the Public Utility Commission (amendments to the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act)

Status: In committee upon adjournment (as of 2025-06-28)
Introduced: February 18, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
Companion: SB 2608

Purpose / Intent

HB 2985 amends the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act to broaden which organizations can participate in and receive funding from the Illinois Works Pre‑Apprenticeship Program, to require geographically categorized allocations from the Illinois Works Fund, to tighten/clarify apprenticeship eligibility for bid credits, and to add representation and reporting requirements to the Illinois Works oversight structure. The aim is to expand and better target pre‑apprenticeship workforce pipelines into construction and building trades, including high‑school based programs, and to align funding with regional needs.

Key provisions

  • Definition changes
    • Expands the definition of “community‑based organization” to include nonprofit organizations, universities, and high‑school‑based programs that run pre‑apprenticeship/workforce programs.
    • Clarifies criteria for qualifying community organizations: ability to serve underrepresented populations, knowledge of construction trades, recruitment/prescreening/training capacity, and a plan for preparatory classes, workplace readiness, barrier‑reduction strategies, and apprenticeship prerequisites.
    • Refines the “apprentice”/“apprenticeship program” language for bid credit eligibility to tie eligibility to completion of the Illinois Works Pre‑Apprenticeship Program and entry/registration in a Department‑certified apprenticeship (including an expectation of entering registered apprenticeship within 12 months).
  • Illinois Works Fund and funding flows
    • Requires Illinois Works Fund allocations to be categorized by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) regions (the bill enumerates regional categories for allocation).
    • Continues/establishes directed transfers into the Illinois Works Fund:
    • Up to $50,000,000 transferred from the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund (direction dates referenced in statute).
    • Beginning July 1, 2024 and each July 1 thereafter, a transfer of $20,000,000 from the Capital Projects Fund to the Illinois Works Fund.
  • Governance and oversight
    • Adds a member to the Illinois Works Review Panel who represents a community‑based organization addressing high‑school based workforce programs.
    • Requires each community‑based organization receiving Illinois Works Fund dollars to submit an annual report to the Illinois Works Review Panel by April 1, including descriptions of activities and participant data (race, gender, age, veteran status), recruitment/screening results, and placements into apprenticeship/construction trades.
  • Bid credit program
    • Continues establishment/administration of an Illinois Works Bid Credit Program to provide economic incentives (virtual bid credits) to contractors/subcontractors that expand opportunities for underrepresented populations in construction.

Who is affected

  • Community‑based organizations (including high‑school programs, nonprofits, universities) that provide pre‑apprenticeship training
  • High schools and students participating in workforce programs
  • Contractors and subcontractors using bid credits on public works
  • Apprentices and pre‑apprentices seeking registered apprenticeship entry
  • Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (administration duties)
  • Illinois Works Review Panel and state fiscal offices (Comptroller/Treasurer) for transfers and reporting

Fiscal / procedural notes

  • Specific transfer amounts in the bill: up to $50,000,000 (from Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund) and $20,000,000 annually (from Capital Projects Fund starting 7/1/2024).
  • Annual reporting deadline for fund recipients: April 1.
  • Procedural history highlights: filed Feb 18, 2025; public hearings and committee actions in Feb–Apr 2025; recommended do pass with amendments (4/15/2025) and referred to Ways & Means; as of 6/28/2025 the bill is in committee upon adjournment.

Implications

If enacted, the bill would expand eligible program providers (notably adding high‑school based programs), formalize regional funding categories for the Illinois Works Fund, strengthen data/reporting requirements, and add direct representation for high‑school workforce programs on the review panel — all intended to increase and better target pre‑apprenticeship pipelines into registered construction apprenticeships.

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

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