Illinois Rep. Crawford’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District hiring bill passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Michael Crawford aims to update Metropolitan Water Reclamation District hiring practices, including examination notice requirements and apprenticeship program treatment, following approval in both chambers, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

In the House, 73 Democrats and 37 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 40 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

Crawford introduced the bill in the Illinois House on Jan. 14, 2026 during the 104th session.

The legislation, known as HB4426, was passed on May 21, 2026 during the general assembly session 104.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill’s official text as follows: “Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Provides that, among other things, notice of the duration of eligible lists of examinations of each position in the classified service shall be given by the Director of Human Resources by publication for 2 weeks preceding the examination in a daily newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the sanitary district is situated, and the notice shall be posted by the Director in a conspicuous place in the Director’s office for 2 weeks before the examination. Provides that, if fewer than 5 candidates are in the A, B, and C categories combined, then the Director may delay certification to fill a vacancy and hold an examination to provide a sufficient number of candidates on an updated eligible list. Provides that, among other apprentices, apprentices in a sanitary district’s apprenticeship program for plant operations or laboratory operations shall not be included in the classified civil service. Provides that graduates of a sanitary district apprenticeship program shall be given additional points on examinations for civil service journeymen positions in entry-level positions in plant operations or laboratory operations classifications, in addition to the trades, at the sanitary district. Provides that, if an eligible list for the civil service journeyman trades or entry-level plant operations or laboratory operations classification already exists at the time a district apprentice completes the district program, then a special administration of the examination may be scheduled by the Director. Makes other and conforming changes.”

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill revises hiring and civil service rules for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District by updating examination notices, eligible list management and apprenticeship treatment. It requires public notice of exam details and list duration in a local daily newspaper and at the human resources office for 2 weeks before testing. It lets the human resources director delay certification and hold new exams if fewer than five candidates are available across all ranking categories. It excludes district apprentices in trades, plant operations and laboratory operations from classified service, admits apprentices by lottery, and grants program graduates extra exam points and access to special exams so they can be added to existing eligible lists.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Adriane Johnson (Democrat-30th District), Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin (Democrat-38th District), and Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet (Democrat-5th District), along with two other sponsors.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Crawford graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a BS.

Crawford, a Democrat, was elected to the Illinois State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 31st House District, replacing previous state representative Mary E. Flowers.

Lawmakers listed as “Excused Absence” had formally informed leadership of their inability to attend the vote, often due to health or personal circumstances.