(The Center Square) – A bill to address tornado preparedness at warehouses advanced to the Illinois Senate.
State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, spoke on the House floor and recalled six workers who died in 2021 when an Amazon warehouse collapsed during a tornado.
“We want to make sure that the warehouses have a site-specific safety plan and that that safety plan is shared with local first emergency responders,” Stuart said.
House Bill 2987 also includes requirements that involve training for building inspectors and specifications for new construction.
Stuart told state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, the measure was not aimed at grain bins or fertilizer storage.
“Correct. It’s like a container for stuff, and we don’t have people moving that stuff in and out on a regular basis every day. It is, like I said, just a container holding a product,” Stuart suggested.
“Right,” Spain said.
“That’s not intended to be included,” Stuart said.
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Murrayville, expressed concerns about large hoop buildings that store fertilizer.
“You do have people that are in and out of there moving material around, so I want to make sure as we move this forward that we’re not including those, because normally there’s an office right nearby or something of that sort,” Davidsmeyer said.
Stuart said HB 2987 defines warehouse workers as those who spend a majority of their working hours within the warehouse. She said the bill is not intended to cover the individuals described by Davidsmeyer.
“They would not be considered a warehouse worker. Their safe location is probably within that office space and doesn’t need to be in that warehouse space,” Stuart responded.
Stuart said she and the bill’s Senate sponsor have agreed to work on clarifying the bill language, if necessary, to make sure that structures are excluded if people are not there during the course of work.
State Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, asked Stuart if the bill included funding for municipalities or counties.
“No, we didn’t put any direct funding,” Stuart answered.
HB 2987 is now in the Illinois Senate, after the measure passed Tuesday by a vote of 83-28. The General Assembly’s spring legislative session is scheduled to end May 31.
