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Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Inc.
News
Guidance Issued on Reporting Tax Deduction for Overtime Pay
The IRS announced that, for tax year 2025, employers will not face penalties for failing to separately report qualified overtime compensation. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) specifically allows eligible employees to deduct a certain amount of qualifying overtime pay from their federal taxable income for 2025-2028 tax years.
LICA Joins Call for White House Conference on Small Business
LICA is cooperating with the Business Coalition for Fair Competition (BCFC) in calling for a White House Conference on Small Business. Reps. Brad Finstad (R-MN) and Don Davis (D-NC) will be introducing the White House Conference on Small Business Act of 2025 this week. There have been three White House Conference on Small Business (WHCSB) in 1980, 1986, and 1995.
Read morehttps://www.licanational.com/lica-joins-call-for-white-house-conference-on-small-business/
DOT Continues to Clarify DBE Program Requirements
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Dec. 1 provided further guidance on the implementation of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to clarify issues raised in its Interim Final Rule (IFR) which governs the program’s implementation until final rules are issued. This is US DOT’s second set of clarifications.
Farm Assistance Plan Introduced
President Trump announced on December 8 a $12 billion farm aid package intended to support American farmers struggling with financial losses caused by trade wars, tariffs, and rising production costs. The aid package is designed to provide immediate relief to farmers who have faced declining export markets, particularly after China reduced purchases of U.S. soybeans and other crops in response to tariffs.
Illinois Scientists Reveal How Tile Drainage Transforms Agroecosystems Through Soil Oxygen
A new study from the Agroecosystem Sustainability Center (ASC) of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides one of the most comprehensive explanation to date of how tile drainage, a common agricultural practice, enhances the functioning of agricultural landscapes.
A New Tool for NLRS Partners: Illinois Launches the NLRS Data Portal
The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) has launched a new online Data Portal, providing partners—like Illinois’ soil and water conservation districts—with an improved way to explore, understand, and share progress toward statewide nutrient reduction goals.
Midwest Team Turns Conversations Into Action
On November 7th, members of American Farmland Trust's Midwest Team joined the three-day Fishers and Farmers workshop in Monticello, IL. The three days kicked off with a farm tour of agroforestry in action followed by an afternoon of space to listen to the experiences of farmers and contribute personal stories.
Did You Know? NACD Advocacy
Did you know that one of NACD’s core functions is to advocate for policies that support conservation districts and our partners at the national level? NACD maintains a policy book to inform all the legislative work NACD staff and board members carry out.
Farewell to the Godfather of LICA
For more than two decades, Jerry Biuso, Sr. was the face of the Land Improvement Contractors of America. To many, he’ll always be the “Godfather of LICA,” a nickname born from his unmistakable personality, his Jersey confidence, and the way he looked after this association as if it were his own family.
NEPA Streamlining Legislation Moves Forward
On November 20, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, to reform the permitting and judicial review process for construction projects subject to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
Limits on EQIP and Conservation Funding Lifted
Agripulse reports that federal conservation funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will no longer limit how much farmers can receive. The continuing resolution (CR), passed by Congress before the Thanksgiving holiday, funds through Jan. 30 those parts of the government not covered by three agency specific appropriations bills approved as part of the CR legislation.
From the ADMC: Putting Farms First, Streamlining Delivery
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) met with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) chief Aubrey Bettencourt on Friday, Sept. 26 to discuss strategies for maximizing the effectiveness of the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations.
US DOT Continues Crack Down on Non-US Truck Drivers - CDL Schools
The U.S. Transportation Department said this week it may withhold up to $30.4 million in federal highway funding from Minnesota over commercial driver licenses issued improperly to non-U.S. residents. The letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gave the state 30 days to come into compliance and revoke the licenses after a federal audit.
New JULIE Training: Understanding Joint Meets
JULIE’s newest online course—JULIE Essentials for Joint Meets—is now available and designed to give both new and experienced professionals a clear understanding of the joint meet process. In just 25 minutes, learners will walk through state requirements, best practices, communication tips, and how to coordinate effectively with facility owners, locators, and excavators before work begins.
Why Excavators Love RTE
Remote Ticket Entry (RTE) lets excavators enter their own locate requests online—24/7—with built-in mapping, address tools, and quality checks. No phone call needed. For crews who submit tickets regularly, RTE improves accuracy, speeds up planning, and helps you stay compliant with state law. Only RTE users can add attachments to their locate requests.
JULIE Positive Response System Now Fully Functional
JULIE’s Positive Response is a system that member utility companies will use to communicate the status of a locate request notification to the excavator through a series of codes. The state law requires that all member utility companies respond to every locate request notification they receive.
Your Life Matters - Video
On April 29, 2025, Northern Natural Gas was notified by its contracted aerial patrol pilot of an active drain tiling operation underway near Brooklyn, Iowa. The excavator took over his grandfather’s company, and his two brothers took time off from work and school to assist in the drain tile project. The excavator’s compelling, genuine account of the day's events and his personal reaction to narrowly escaping a tragic outcome will likely connect with fellow excavators, the agricultural community, and drain tile installers.
Return on Investment for Conservation Drainage
On November 12, the Illinois Conservation On-Farm Network (ICON) hosted Isaac Ferrie of Crop Tech Consulting and Ben Reinhart of Ecosystem Services Exchange for a discussion on conservation drainage practices that deliver multiple benefits for producers. While several options exist for tile-drained landscapes, such as saturated buffers and bioreactors, the spotlight for this webinar was on controlled drainage, also known as drainage water management.
Job Site Photos Are Worth Thousands of Dollars
Documentation is crucial to protecting your company’s bottom line. You cannot take too many pictures of sites, rental equipment, roads and driveways.
JULIE's Positive Response System is Ready!
We are excited to share that JULIE’s Positive Response System will be fully functional and available for excavators beginning December 1, 2025. This means you can begin checking how utility companies responded to your locate requests online ——any time, from anywhere, using a phone, tablet, or computer with internet access.