Legislative priorities for the group range from policies to sustain progress made to upgrade Illinois’ vast road and transportation infrastructure through Rebuild Illinois, to policies which position the state to be a national leader in the engineering industry, and work centered on investing in Illinois’ water infrastructure.
American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois Legislative Agenda Priority Legislation and Issues:
- Preserving the road fund and projects established in Rebuild Illinois.
- Senate Bill 3855: Creates the Engineering Students of Illinois Scholarship Act to support engineering students at Illinois universities and strengthen IDOT’s workforce.
- House Bill 1803: Creates the Retain Illinois Students of Engineering (RISE) Tax Credit to employers hiring recent engineering graduates to help address the growing engineering workforce shortage and encourage talent to build careers in Illinois.
- Support local municipalities through strengthening the IEPA State Revolving Fund Programs including the Water Pollution Control Loan Program, the Public Water Supply Loan Program and lead line replacement programs.
“Preserving the funds established through ReBuild Illinois remains one of our top priorities,” said Kevin Artl, President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “These funds not only ensure our roads and bridges and are maintained and provide safe travel across our communities and state, but the Rebuild Illinois program also modernizes and upgrades Illinois’ infrastructure to support a 21st Century economy.”
Key priorities in ACEC Illinois’ 2026 Legislative Agenda include backing legislation to support Illinois engineering students and keep them working in Illinois post-graduation and strengthening the engineering industry in Illinois with a new tax credit for hiring.
The college-age population (18-24) is currently facing its sharpest decline, directly impacting the number of potential engineering students. This demographic shift compounds recruitment challenges for engineering programs nationwide. ACEC Illinois has been focused on incentives for engineering students and K-12 STEM programs across Illinois to inspire the next generation of talent.
“Strengthening the pipeline of Illinois engineers is a needed and necessary step for Illinois to become an industry leader nationwide. Through the Engineering Students Scholarship Act, we can attract students into the field and keep them in Illinois with post graduate employment through IDOT,” said Laura McGovern, Board Chair-Elect of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “With the right focus on education and outreach, Illinois can continue cultivating the talent needed to design the future.”
Other areas of interest to the engineering community include working to strengthen Illinois’ water infrastructure through increased funding for the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public Water Supply Loan Program. Expanding investment for lead line service replacement programs is also a focus for ACEC Illinois.
“ACEC Illinois is committed to collaborating with the General Assembly and Governor JB Pritzker to strengthen funding for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s State Revolving fund programs. These programs support local communities through low-cost financing to help modernize drinking water and wastewater infrastructure,” said Jerry Payonk, Board Chair of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. “Likewise, providing safe reliable drinking water across Illinois through the accelerated removal of lead service lines is critical.”
Additional ACEC Illinois Legislative Agenda Measures:
- House Bill 4439: Allows local municipalities greater opportunities and flexibility to upgrade and modernize their infrastructure.
- Senate Bill 3566: Modernizes electric vehicle registrations and establishes a new Road Usage Charge Program.
- Senate Bill 3123: Allows for the mobilization of engineers and architects during natural disasters and provides immunity for services without compensation in emergency response activities.
- Senate Bill 3440: Would require a civil engineer to sign an affidavit certifying that malpractice may have taken place before a suit can be filed against an engineer or firm.
- Senate Bill 252/ House Bill 1602: Modernizes the state’s Research and Development Tax Credit which is critical to Illinois’ engineers as they work to modernize the state’s infrastructure.
- Senate Bill 3287/ House Bill 5283: Supports small businesses in the manufacturing and construction industries through clarifications to the Illinois Procurement code.
- Senate Bill 3230: Seeks to create more opportunities for veteran-owned businesses, including veteran-owned engineering firms.
- Senate Bill 3520/ House Bill 4776: Allows IDOT to take over the environmental review process for major transportation projects from the U.S. Department of Transportation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
- Senate Bill 2997/ House Bill 4651: Consolidates and streamlines IDOT procurement processes for expedited project delivery.
- Senate Bill 3634/ House Bill 4950: Helps IDOT deliver highway projects more quickly and efficiently by updating several project management rules.
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, please visit www.acecil.org.
