SB 178 is sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes. SB 178 seeks to amend the Public Construction Bond Act to provide that a local government entity may not require retainage when a contractor has furnished a surety bond or its equivalent. 

SB 2494 is sponsored by Senator Ram Villivalam. SB 2494 seeks to extend a sunset provision in current law that allows the time a commercial construction project may last and still permit the filing of a mechanics lien from 3 to 5 years.  

On Feb. 22, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) entered into a tri-party strategic alliance agreement to collaborate on issues impacting the construction and maintenance industry on a national and regional level.

Through this alliance, MCAA, NECA, and TAUC will conduct joint meetings and share information of mutual interest relating to environmental health and safety, industrial relations, government affairs, and innovation and technology. The three organizations will develop products and practices to jointly benefit their respective memberships, increase membership awareness of industry issues, and much more.

Your employees might not know that they can access their NEBF account on our Online Benefits portal by visiting www.nebf.com and clicking Online Benefits in the top menu bar. Members can use the portal to complete certain self-help items related to their NEBF account without having to wait.

The Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association’s (IMSCA’s) Virtual Town Hall Legislative Forum is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 19^th via Zoom. IMSCA has an exciting panel of legislators who will provide IMSCA members with an overview of important issues facing our state that the Illinois General Assembly will tackle during the spring 2021 legislative session. This event is designed to provide IMSCA members with a unique opportunity to receive an “insider’s view” from key Illinois State Senators including Senate President Don Harmon, Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes and Senator Ram Villivalam. Each panelist will provide a 10-15 minute presentation and a brief Q & A period will follow their presentations.

IMSCA staff encourages you to invite your association officers, committee members and colleagues to attend this event to learn more about legislative issues important to the Illinois construction industry and your business. Please click on the link for the Registration Form which includes full event details and RSVP information.  If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at (217) 523-4361.

The second ELECTRI Council Room Session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 4:00 pm (Eastern Time). The presentation and discussion will focus on "Attracting, Identifying and Retaining Talent." Jon Finch, SVP of Talent Acquisition and Recruiting, Milwaukee Tool, will be the presenter.

To receive the meeting link, please contact laura.holmes@electri.org .

The NECA NOW Conference registration is now open! Please click on the link below for more information / registration.

As a reminder, The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives of participating ECA member firms for the NECA NOW Conference on April 13 – 14, 2021. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) forwarded to ECA.

The NECA NOW Conference registration is now open! Please click on the link below for more information / registration.

As a reminder, The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Safety Professionals Conference on May 25 - 26, 2021. All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) forwarded to ECA.