Chicago Construction News staff writer
Construction companies across Illinois could be required by law next year to provide separate bathroom facilities for women, stock menstrual hygiene products and offer lactation accommodations on job sites under legislation advancing at the State Capitol.
Supporters, including Chicago Women in Trades, say Senate Bill 3465 builds on existing workplace sanitation and lactation protections and is intended to establish clearer standards for construction sites in a historically male-dominated industry.
“Building on existing lactation and bathroom sanitation requirements, the bill establishes clear standards for menstrual hygiene access and lactation accommodations, making construction sites healthier and more inclusive, welcoming and equitable workplaces,” the organization said in a statement.
Senate Bill 3465, currently under consideration in the House, would require the primary employer on a construction site to provide dedicated restroom facilities, ensure menstrual products are available at no cost, and offer private lactation spaces upon request for nursing workers.
The bill would apply to construction sites with 10 or more employees that remain active for more than five days.
State Senator Graciela Guzmán (D-Chicago) said Senate Bill 3465 focuses on providing sanitary conditions, reasonable accommodations and menstrual products on job sites. The bill passed the Senate on April 15 and now moves on to the House.
“Women and anyone who menstruates have a right to care for their bodies in a dignified and sanitary way,” Guzmán said in a news release. “Whether in the office or on the job site, we need commonsense accommodations for those who menstruate and those who are lactating. This legislation uplifts women which in turn will support the trades and their hard work.”
Chicago Women in Trades says construction sites have historically been “not welcoming environments for many women,” noting that bathrooms have at times been used as “mechanisms for harassment and unequal treatment.” The group argues that addressing the needs of workers who menstruate or lactate is essential to improving safety, retention and equity in the industry.
Key provisions of the bill, include requirements for a dedicated and clearly signed women’s restroom with secure internal locking mechanisms, free menstrual hygiene products stocked at all times, and adequate time for workers to use restroom facilities given the demands of construction work and protective clothing.
Employers would also be required to provide reasonable accommodations consistent with the Illinois Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act. Those could include flexible breaks, a sanitary lockable space that is not a restroom, refrigeration or cooling options for breast milk storage, and access to nearby water for hygiene.
“Workplace standards must evolve and remove barriers that impact those who menstruate, lactate, or need extra accommodation,” the organization said. “When workers’ basic needs are met, they are more likely to stay in their jobs.”
Under the proposal, worksites with 10 or more workers on site for at least five working days would be required to provide separate toilet facilities designated for women and individuals who menstruate. Smaller sites could continue using gender-neutral facilities consistent with existing sanitation standards.
Responsibility for compliance would fall to employers on each site, though provisions allow coordination through project owners or prime contractors when multiple contractors are involved.
The House Labor and Commerce Committee has recommended the bill move forward, as lawmakers face a Friday deadline for Senate bills to clear the chamber.
