Illinois Prevailing Wage Update: Key Issues Headed to Fall Veto Session

HB 4751: REVAILING WAGE JOURNEYMAN APPRENTICE “CLEAN UP” DID  NOT ADVANCE
Initiated by the Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA), HB 4751 (Hoffman) aimed to reinstate critical components of the Prevailing Wage Act (“Act”). These provisions were originally altered by Public Act 104-17, which passed at the conclusion of the 2025 Spring Session. Subsequent legislation during the 2025 Fall Veto Session postponed the effective date until July 1, 2026. 

HB 4751 sought to clarify that the Act does not prohibit the payment of wages and fringe benefits based on a worker’s specific craft and skill level, provided these rates are established through a collective bargaining agreement. Despite its potential to provide necessary clarity and fairness in wage structures, the bill remained stalled in the House Rules Committee as the session ended. Accordingly, this change in Illinois will take effect on July 1, 2026.

SB 3393: LABOR OMNIBUS PACKAGE STALLS
Introduced toward the conclusion of the session, SB 3393, commonly known as the Omnibus Labor Package, encompassed a variety of labor-related initiatives. The Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) opposed the bill because of House Amendment #3, which aimed to eliminate the established “seller/supplier exemption” found in the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. While the legislation successfully cleared the House, it stalled after the Senate declined to take it up for concurrence. Advocates and opponents anticipate that the proposal will resurface for consideration when the Illinois General Assembly reconvenes for the Fall Veto Session later this year.

Key Takeaways
Wernick’s action items, to be completed without delay since the requirement is already in force:

• Review your CBAs with legal counsel to understand where HB 2488 supersedes negotiated apprentice fringe benefit provisions.
• Update your bid models to reflect higher apprentice costs on prevailing wage work — government projects are the clearest indicator; renewable energy credit projects may also qualify.
• Don’t wait to update payroll systems, benefit fund reporting and project accounting. The compliance window is already open.
• Consult legal counsel. Guidance from IDOL is limited, and the stakes are high. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The lack of finality on these issues is not a permanent defeat, but rather a shift in the legislative timeline. The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene for the Fall Veto Session on November 17-19 and December 1-3. During this Fall Session, the “seller/supplier exemption” and the broader labor omnibus package are expected to be the subjects of continued discussion and negotiation.