SB518
Public works contracts; prevailing wage rate, definitions, civil penalty.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
April 2, 2026
Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518)
Chief Patron:
Aaron Rouse (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Prevailing wage rate for public works contracts; localities.
Requires each state agency or locality, when procuring services or letting contracts for public works paid for in whole or in part by state or local funds, or when overseeing or administering such contracts for public works, to ensure that its bid specifications or other public contracts applicable to the ... (More) public works require bidders, offerors, contractors, and subcontractors to pay wages, salaries, benefits, and other remuneration to any mechanic, laborer, or worker employed, retained, or otherwise hired to perform services in connection with the public contract for public works at a rate no less than the prevailing wage rate. Under the bill, a contractor or subcontractor may be liable to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry for liquidated damages for violating the prevailing wage requirements in the bill. Under the bill, any interested party shall have standing to challenge bid specifications, project agreements, or other public contracts for public works that violate the provisions of the bill. The bill requires institutions of higher education to include in certain memoranda of understanding an express agreement to comply with public works contract requirements. Under the bill, the Commissioner shall determine the prevailing wage based on a survey of wages and benefits paid in each area, as defined in the bill, conducted every two years. The bill includes factors for the Commissioner to consider in determining a prevailing wage rate. The bill directs the Commissioner to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105263D
- 01/13/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
- 01/21/2026 - Senate: Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N)
- 01/21/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Commerce and Labor
- 01/22/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/22/2026 2:50 pm)
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Incorporates SB370 (Carroll Foy)
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/03/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26106808D-S1
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26107221D-S2
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/19/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/19/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/19/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 03/02/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518)
- 03/03/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 03/03/2026 - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
- 03/03/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26109033D-H1
- 03/03/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Appropriations
- 03/04/2026 - House: Placed on Appropriations Agenda
- 03/04/2026 - House: Reported from Appropriations (14-Y 7-N)
- 03/06/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/09/2026 - House: Passed by for the day
- 03/10/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/10/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 03/10/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 03/10/2026 - House: Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518)
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - House: House insisted on substitute
- 03/12/2026 - House: House requested conference committee
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Rouse, McPike, Pillion
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: Feggans, McQuinn, Bloxom
- 03/13/2026 - Senate: Conference substitute printed 26109814D-S3
- 03/13/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/13/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/14/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/23/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518)
- 03/30/2026 - Senate: Enrolled
- 03/30/2026 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB518ER)
- 03/30/2026 - Senate: Signed by President
- 03/31/2026 - House: Signed by Speaker
- 03/31/2026 - Senate: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
- 03/31/2026 - Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
- 04/02/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518)
