Tennessee Senate Bill SB2229

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 12, Chapter 4, Part 4, relative to the prevailing wage rate.

Summary

SB2229 amends Tennessee’s prevailing wage law for highway construction projects. The bill revises the definition of “state contract” to mean a written agreement with the state for work on a state highway construction project, and it restates the state policy that prevailing wage rates must be paid on all state highway construction projects and on non-state contract construction projects on public highways that are funded in whole or in part with federal or state highway funds. The bill also makes a technical change to the wage-rate administration provision by allowing the commissioner’s designee to perform a function previously assigned only to the commissioner of labor and workforce development. The act applies prospectively to contracts entered into, amended, or renewed on or after the effective date.

Impact

The bill would update Tennessee Code Annotated Title 12, Chapter 4, Part 4, narrowing and clarifying the statutory definition of “state contract” and reinforcing prevailing wage requirements for highway-related construction work. It affects state highway construction projects and other public highway projects receiving federal or state highway funding, as well as contractors and workers on those projects. It also expands administrative flexibility by authorizing the commissioner’s designee to act under Section 12-4-404(a).

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong committee support, with unanimous recommendations for passage in both the Senate State & Local Government Committee and the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. No committee transcript discussion was provided, but the recorded votes suggest the bill was viewed favorably and without significant opposition at the committee stage.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Based on the subject matter, any debate would likely center on prevailing wage policy, including whether wage mandates increase public project costs or protect workers and ensure fair compensation on highway construction projects. However, the available record does not show recorded dissent or identified opponents.