SPRINGFIELD – The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC Illinois) has unveiled its 2025 legislative agenda. Legislative priorities for the group range from policies to sustain progress made to upgrade Illinois’ vast road and transportation infrastructure to policies centered on protecting engineers and architects working on construction sites and creation of incentives for workforce development and STEM education to grow a future pipeline of talent in the engineering field.
“Building upon the success of ReBuild Illinois and preserving the road fund essential to maintaining and modernizing our state’s road, rail and freight infrastructure for the future remains one our top priorities,” said Kevin Artl, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “The Governor’s recently proposed budget will allow Illinois engineers to continue to work on transformative projects across the state. We look forward to working with lawmakers to make more progress possible as Illinois engineers design, build and complete world-class infrastructure projects that will result in a stronger economy and make Illinois a major destination for companies across the globe.”
Key priorities in ACEC Illinois’ 2025 Legislative Agenda include support for the Good Samaritan Act, an initiative to mobilize engineers and architects as problem solvers during natural disasters and emergency response situations. Licensed engineers, licensed architects and members of their teams who are providing emergency response work, without compensation, would be provided with immunity during such situations. Additional measures of interest to the engineering community include legislation that will allow local municipalities greater opportunities and flexibility to upgrade and modernize their infrastructure through a local Motor Fuel Tax (MFT), the modernization of the state’s research and development (R&D) tax credits to match changes to the R&D credit at the federal level, promote innovation, achieve talent retention and address shortage of educated talent.
“Illinois has an opportunity to become a hub for the nation’s engineering industry,” said Jerald T. Payonk, Chair-elect of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “Enacting policies like the RISE Act to attract students, retain engineers and address skilled talent shortages and making the research and development tax credit permanent will promote innovation by engineering companies and guarantee the success of our state’s infrastructure development goals.”
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the engineering workforce is already at full employment. ACEC’s analysis of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) finds that nationally we need an additional 82,000 engineers and other professionals to deliver those projects. ACEC Illinois has been focused on expanding STEM programs across Illinois and supports legislation this year to further that effort.
“Encouraging Illinois youth, especially young women, to become interested and engaged in STEM careers is key to building the next generation of our engineering workforce,” said Laura McGovern, Secretary of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “In addition to introducing legislation to retain and attract Illinois engineering students and talent from across the country, we also support legislation seeking to include young women in STEM scholarships, externships and other learning opportunities.”
ACEC Illinois supports legislation to expedite project delivery and efficiency by reducing red tape and outdated processes at IDOT. In addition, ACEC Illinois supports safety legislation that would allow for provision of Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuators (ATMAs) that absorb impacts from errant vehicles to protect highway workers during maintenance activities.
ACEC-IL 2025 Legislative Agenda
Industry Initiatives
- Preserve REBUILD Illinois: In order to keep Illinois’ promise to citizens to repair, maintain and upgrade Illinois’ infrastructure to support a 21st Century economy, ACEC Illinois will oppose efforts to roll back or divert funding for ReBuild Illinois.
- Emergency Response Work-Civil Liability Immunity (SB 1351): Allows for the mobilization of engineers and architects during natural disasters. Provides immunity for any licensed engineer or licensed architect or other person working under the direct supervision of the licensed person who provides services without compensation in emergency response activities. This legislation is sponsored by Senator DeWitte.
- Non-Home Rule Motor Fuel Tax (HB 1283): Allow local municipalities greater opportunities and flexibility to upgrade and modernize their infrastructure. This proposal would allow all non-home rule municipalities (outside of Cook County) to impose a local Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) not to exceed $0.03 per gallon. This legislation is sponsored by Representative DeLuca.
- Modernize the State’s Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit(HB 1602/SB 252): Research and Development (R&D) is critical to Illinois’ engineers as they work to modernize the state’s infrastructure. ACEC Illinois supports this initiative that increases the R&D credit by providing that the increase in research and development activities shall be based on an increase of over 50% of the average of the qualifying expenditures for each year in the base period. This change modernizes the bill to match changes to the R&D credit at the federal level and makes the R&D credit permanent moving forward. This legislation is sponsored by Representative Mayfield and Senator DeWitte.
- Certificate of Merit for Civil Suits (SB 1352): To reduce the cost of frivolous litigation, this legislation would require a civil engineer to sign an affidavit certifying that malpractice may have taken place in his or her professional opinion before a suit can be filed against an engineer or firm. This legislation is sponsored by Senator Don DeWitte.
Workforce Growth Initiatives
- Retain Illinois Students of Engineering (RISE) Tax Credit (HB 1803): Helping attract and retain engineers as the industry faces a shortage of educated talent, this legislation provides for a tax credit of 10% of the salary paid to recent graduates of Illinois’ engineering schools and 5% of the salary paid to recent graduates of engineering schools outside of Illinois. This legislation is sponsored by Representative Moylan.
- Innovation Tax Credit (SB 2390):Provides that a taxpayer shall be allowed an income tax credit in an amount equal to 1.3% of the qualified research expenses made by the taxpayer in Illinois. Provides that the taxpayer is not required to obtain a research and development credit with respect to his or her federal income taxes to qualify for the Illinois research and development credit. This legislation is sponsored by Senator DeWitte.
- K-12 Resources for women in STEM (HB 2801):Directs the Illinois State Board of Education to create a resource for K-12 STEM teachers to inform young women pursuing STEM careers about externship/volunteer opportunities with Illinois organizations in STEM. ACEC-IL supports this infinitive to grow the future Illinois engineering workforce. This legislation is sponsored by Representative McCombie.
- STEM Scholarships for Women (HB 2806):Adds women to the list of demographics eligible for the STEM higher education scholarship program. ACEC-IL supports this initiative to grow the future engineering workforce in Illinois. This legislation is sponsored by Representative McCombie.
IDOT Improvement Initiatives
- Reducing Bureaucracy and Cutting Red-Tape at IDOT: (SB 2317):When contract changes valued over $250k are needed, they require sign off by top agency executives. IDOT is proposing an inflation adjustment for contract change approval, bringing the threshold needed for sign off by top agency executives from $250k to $750k for IDOT construction projects. The result of the change in law will mean that most “minor” contract changes will receive approval by the Regional Engineer, which allows for faster decision-making on proposed contract changes, quicker response times to contractors, faster payments for work performed, and more efficient work for IDOT. This legislation is sponsored by Senator Ellman.
- Expediting Project Delivery for IDOT: (HB 3184/SB 2253):When acquiring real estate for projects, IDOT currently requires full disclosure of all owners in LLCs or corporations owning the property, including shareholders with more than 7.5% interest. This proposed change would allow any authorized representative to sign disclosures, use public documentation (like SEC filings) for publicly traded entities, and exempt IDOT from gathering ownership info for secondary entities when acquiring land for right of way purposes. This will improve project delivery, improve efficiency, and lower costs for IDOT. This legislation is sponsored by Representative Moylan and Senator Villivalam.
- Construction Zone Safety Initiative (HB 3442/SB 2009): A Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) is critical for protecting highway workers during maintenance activities by absorbing impacts from errant vehicles. The Autonomous Truck Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) technology has been developed to automate the operation of this vehicle, allowing the operator to control it from a lead truck, thus keeping them out of harm’s way. IDOT seeks approval to use ATMA on state highways, as current laws require drivers to be behind the wheel. This legislation is sponsored by Representative Stuart and Senator Cervantes.
About the American Council of Engineering Companies
Representing hundreds of companies, we are the voice of the engineering industry in Illinois. With roots dating back more than 100 years, ACEC Illinois represents more than 11,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors and other specialists. Our primary mission is to strengthen the business environment for our member firms through government advocacy, political action, and business education. For more information, visit www.acecil.org.