104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2722
 
Introduced 10/28/2025, by Sen. Bill Cunningham
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 32/5
220 ILCS 32/15
    Amends the Electric Transmission Systems Construction Standards Act. Provides that "construction contractor" means any non-utility entity (rather than any entity) responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems subject to this Act. Excludes from the definition of "electric transmission systems" facilities not functionally classified as transmission systems. Makes changes to the definition of "utility". Provides that all construction contractors (rather than all utilities and construction contractors) responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission systems shall pay employees performing the construction, installation, maintenance, or repair work of such systems wages and benefits consistent with the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that, to ensure safety and reliability in the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of electric transmission systems, each construction contractor (rather than each electric utility and construction contractor) must demonstrate the competence of their employees.


LRB104 15883 AAS 29108 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
SB2722LRB104 15883 AAS 29108 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Electric Transmission Systems Construction 
5Standards Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 15 as 
6follows:
 
7    (220 ILCS 32/5)
8    Sec. 5. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act:
9    "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission. 
10    "Construction contractor" means any non-utility entity 
11responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, 
12or repair of electric transmission systems subject to this 
13Act.
14    "Electric transmission systems" means an electrical 
15transmission system designed and constructed with the 
16capability of being safely and reliably energized at 69 
17kilovolts or more, including transmission lines, transmission 
18towers, conductors, insulators, foundations, grounding 
19systems, access roads, and all associated transmission 
20facilities, including transmission substations. "Electric 
21transmission systems" does not include projects located on the 
22electric generating facility's side of the facility's point of 
23interconnection or facilities not functionally classified as 
 
 
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1transmission systems, regardless of voltage.
2    "OSHA" means Occupational Safety and Health 
3Administration.
4    "Utility" means a utility that serves customers and that 
5meets the definition of "public utility" has the meaning given 
6to that term in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
7(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)
 
8    (220 ILCS 32/15)
9    Sec. 15. Requirements for construction contractors.
10    (a) Prevailing wage compliance. All utilities and 
11construction contractors responsible for the construction, 
12installation, maintenance, or repair of electric transmission 
13systems shall pay employees performing the construction, 
14installation, maintenance, or repair work of such systems 
15wages and benefits consistent with the Prevailing Wage Act.
16    (b) Training and competence requirement. To ensure safety 
17and reliability in the construction, installation, 
18maintenance, and repair of electric transmission systems, each 
19electric utility and construction contractor must demonstrate 
20the competence of their employees who are performing the work 
21of construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of 
22electric transmission systems, which shall be consistent with 
23the standards required by Illinois utilities as of January 1, 
242007, or greater. Competence must include, at a minimum: (1) 
25completion, or active participation with ultimate completion, 
 
 
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1in an accredited or recognized apprenticeship program for the 
2relevant craft, trade, or skill; or (2) a minimum of 2 years of 
3direct employment in the specific work function. 
4    The Commission shall oversee compliance to ensure 
5employees meet these standards.
6    (c) Safety training. All employees engaged in the 
7construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of electric 
8transmission systems must successfully complete OSHA-certified 
9safety training required for their specific roles on the 
10project site.
11    (d) Diversity Plan.
12        (1) All construction contractors engaged in the 
13    construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of 
14    electric transmission systems shall develop a Diversity 
15    Plan that sets forth:
16            (A) the goals for apprenticeship hours to be 
17        performed by minorities and women;
18            (B) the goals for total hours to be performed by 
19        underrepresented minorities and women; and
20            (C) spending for women-owned, minority-owned, 
21        veteran-owned, and small business enterprises in the 
22        previous calendar year.
23        (2) These goals shall be expressed as a percentage of 
24    the total work performed by the construction contractor 
25    submitting the plan and the actual spending for all 
26    women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and small 
 
 
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1    business enterprises shall also be expressed as a 
2    percentage of the total work performed by the construction 
3    contractor submitting the Diversity Plan.
4        (3) For purposes of the Diversity Plan, minorities and 
5    women shall have the same definition as defined in the 
6    Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons 
7    with Disabilities Act.
8        (4) The construction contractor shall submit the 
9    Diversity Plan to the Commission.
10(Source: P.A. 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.)