Illinois Legislature Further Amends the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act

During its last veto session of 2025, the Illinois legislature passed two additional bills amending the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (“IPWA”).

First, the Illinois legislature delayed the effective start date of the requirement that employers pay apprentice fringe benefit rates at the same rate as journeyworker fringe benefit rates for projects covered by the IPWA. As part of an omnibus bill, HB 1437, the Illinois legislature extended the deadline for employers to begin paying apprentices fringe benefits at the journeyworker scale for projects covered by the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act from June 30, 2025, to July 1, 2026.

Second, the Illinois legislature again expanded the scope of work covered by the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act to include: “field mechanics, technicians, or similar positions, including time spent transporting parts, materials, or equipment to and from a site, regardless of whether the person is employed by a contractor, subcontractor, seller, or supplier.” This amendment expands the number of employees covered by the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act and increases the number of situations in which travel time is considered to be covered under the Act.

Both of these bills are currently awaiting the Governor’s signature.

© 2025 by Andrew J. Martone and Martone Legal, L.L.C.