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Illinois Chamber Joins Veto Request:
HB 2845 - Prevailing Wage
Earlier this week, the Illinois Chamber signed on to the Mid-West Truckers Association veto request letter of HB 2845 on prevailing wage for the transportation of biosolids. NFIB, the Illinois Trucking Association, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois, the Illinois Construction Industry Committee, and others joined in on the effort as well. Provided below is a portion of the letter that has been sent to Governor J.B. Pritzker.
We are writing to respectfully request that you veto House Bill 2845, which mandates prevailing wage for the transportation of biosolids and lime sludge, byproducts of the wastewater treatment process, that are often used by farmers to fertilize crops. This legislation will have severe fiscal ramifications on small businesses that haul biosolids, including farmers and truckers, and the municipalities and wastewater agencies that rely on them. HB 2845 ultimately creates an unfunded mandate on municipalities, undermines sustainable farming and waste management practices, and threatens to blemish our state’s environmental track record.
Local wastewater agencies already face significant challenges finding companies willing to haul biosolids to farm grounds at market rates, but they’ve managed to make do within the bounds of their property tax revenues. Now, under HB 2845, hauling companies and treatment centers will face a significant and unsustainable spike in costs associated with providing this service. This burden will discourage small business from participating in waste management contracts due to unaffordable labor costs, and regardless of who is providing the service, those costs will inevitably be passed on to property taxpayers.
Additionally, it’s important to consider the unique circumstances of individual farmers who haul biosolids and lime sludge on their own for their farming needs – a practice that currently saves money for municipalities. Farmers often rely on the use of biosolids and lime sludge as a sustainable, organic fertilizer to maintain soil health and provide nutrients for crops. However, this mandate will significantly increase the cost of obtaining these resources, potentially discouraging farmers from using them. If they cannot afford these costs, or have gaps in access to biosolids, farmers may be forced to turn to cheaper, more accessible alternatives, such as anhydrous fertilizer, that have significant environmental drawbacks.
Moreover, HB2845 will have lasting effects on every community in this state beyond driving up costs for the removal of waste solids. For Illinois’ trucking industry, the bill will jeopardize the opportunity many small trucking companies have to serve their local communities. They will be faced with Department of Labor compliance audits and complicated certified payroll processes for work that is only a small part of their day-to-day business. Many local trucking companies will stop hauling biosolids altogether, and force local communities to either hire large firms based out-of-state or let biowaste pile up.
Read the full letter here.
Annual Meeting and Reception Sponsorship
The Illinois Chamber is now seeking sponsors for our 2023 annual luncheon! The 2023 annual luncheon and pre-event reception will be held on September 28 at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook. We are seeking sponsors for the reception preceding the event as well as the meeting itself.
Please see the attached document for reception sponsorship information as well as a tentative agenda. The annual meeting is our biggest event of the year and I look forward to seeing you all there.
Please reach out to me for further sponsorship details at acunningham@ilchamber.org
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