HB3491 grants laborers, workers, or mechanics employed by contractors or lower tier sub-contractors the right to take legal action if they are paid less than the prevailing wage rates for work on a project. They can seek the difference between their actual pay and the required prevailing rates.
The Illinois State House of Representatives passed HB3491 on March 22, 2023 by a vote of 75 to 36. We have assigned pluses to the nays because prevailing wage laws increase the cost of construction projects by mandating higher wages for workers. This can lead to higher overall project costs, forcing taxpayers to pay more for projects that could potentially be completed for less. Additionally, prevailing wage laws distort the labor market by artificially inflating wages for certain types of construction work, violating free-market principles.