NFIB Illinois State Director Noah Finley appeared before the Illinois Senate Labor Committee to express opposition to proposed legislation that would require employers in the construction industry to provide additional amenities at job sites. The bill, SB 3465, introduced by Senator Guzman, would mandate items such as toilets, hygienic kits, refrigeration, running water, and lactation rooms at various work locations, including mobile sites and snow removal areas.
The proposed requirements would apply to all employers in the sector, regardless of their size. According to Finley, “SB 3465 is poorly crafted, creating more ambiguity than clarity for employers. It would impose costly, if not unfeasible mandates, on many small businesses across the state.”
While the legislation does not specifically define “employers in the construction industry,” it relies on an existing statutory definition of “construction industry.” This definition covers a broad range of activities including constructing, repairing, renovating buildings and infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. It also includes landscaping, snow removal, refuse collection, and moving construction materials on job sites.
The bill would also place new obligations on owners of buildings that are under construction.
