HR0242 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Each year, Illinois faces catastrophic events, such as tornadoes, hail, thunderstorms, and flooding, all of which carry the potential to cause serious damage or, even worse, total destruction to private property and homes; and

WHEREAS, Following disasters, stressed and strained homeowners are vulnerable to predatory practices from dishonest contractors fraudulently inflating repair or rebuilding costs; and

WHEREAS, Predatory practices by unscrupulous contractors taking advantage of these stressful scenarios ultimately increase costs for consumers by driving up insurance premiums and forcing insurers to reevaluate risk; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that an effective public outreach campaign highlights the various types of contractor fraud schemes to help educate consumers on how to identify and avoid such schemes; and

WHEREAS, The National Insurance Crime Bureau encourages Illinoisans to get at least three written estimates when hiring a contractor, check contractor credentials, and work closely with insurers during the entire rebuilding process; and

WHEREAS, The National Insurance Crime Bureau, in collaboration with its local and state partners in Illinois, including law enforcement, first responders, legislators, and state officials, are committed to educating Illinoisans about predatory practices by dishonest contractors; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May 19-23, 2025 as Contractor Fraud Awareness Week in the State of Illinois and encourage all Illinoisans to become familiar with contractor fraud and participate in the various programs during the fifth annual event; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the National Insurance Crime Bureau as an expression of our respect and esteem.