Lilly Highlights Work to Support Small Construction Companies

CHICAGO – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is highlighting her work to support small businesses in Illinois by requiring prompt payments to subcontractors working on construction projects for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

“With the historic Rebuild Illinois infrastructure plan that recently passed to invest in our parks, schools, and roads, it is critical that the state support the people and businesses who will do the work of rebuilding Illinois,” Lilly said. “This means we must pay our construction firms on time so that they can continue to invest in their workers and help rebuild our state.”

Lilly sponsored Senate Bill 104 to require the prompt payment of subcontractors who work on projects for IDOT. Under Lilly’s measure, prime contractors will be required to send payments to subcontractors within 10 business days or 15 calendar days, whichever is less. Additionally, invoices submitted by contractors to the state will now require the names of subcontractors and the amounts due to these small businesses by prime contractors and IDOT will be required to publish a searchable database of active construction contracts to show payments due to prime contractors and subcontractors. Lilly’s measure will assist small construction contractors by increasing the transparency of payments and instituting prompt payment requirements.

“Small construction firms and subcontractors deserve to be paid promptly for the important work they do and they deserve to know if other contractors are not paying them on time,” Lilly said. “I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for supporting this measure and I encourage Governor J.B. Pritzker to sign this legislation to support small construction businesses in our state.”