An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-4321.3, 23.1-1009, and 40.1-6 of the Code of Virginia, relating to prevailing wage rate for public works contracts; definitions; civil penalty; work group; report.
HB569 revises Virginia’s prevailing wage law for public works contracts. It requires state agencies, when procuring or overseeing public works paid for in whole or in part with state funds, to include contract terms requiring bidders, contractors, and subcontractors to pay mechanics, laborers, and workers at no less than the prevailing wage rate. The bill also authorizes localities to adopt ordinances imposing the same prevailing wage requirement on locally funded public works contracts. The bill updates key definitions, including “public works,” “state agency,” “covered institution,” and “prevailing wage rate,” and ties Virginia’s prevailing wage determinations to federal Davis-Bacon standards and related federal regulatory definitions.
The bill amends §§ 2.2-4321.3, 23.1-1009, and 40.1-6 of the Code of Virginia, expanding and clarifying the statutory framework for prevailing wage requirements on public construction projects. It affects state agencies, local governments that choose to opt in by ordinance, contractors, subcontractors, and workers on public works projects, including transportation infrastructure projects, while expressly excluding certain non-governmental broadband or telecommunications facilities from the definition of public works. The measure also references civil penalties and reporting/work group provisions in its caption, indicating broader administrative and enforcement implications for labor standards on public projects.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 1060, which indicates it received sufficient support to pass both chambers and be signed into law. Although no committee transcript or recorded vote details are provided here, the final enactment suggests the bill had enough legislative backing to advance through the process. Based on the subject matter, the bill likely aligned with supporters of labor standards and wage protections on publicly funded construction projects.
The main policy tension in a prevailing wage bill is typically between supporters who argue it protects workers and ensures fair compensation on public projects, and opponents who may argue it increases project costs and limits bidding flexibility. This bill also creates a point of contention by making the requirement mandatory for state agencies while leaving local adoption optional, which may reflect compromise over local control and fiscal impacts. Another likely issue is the scope of the definition of public works, especially the explicit exclusion for certain broadband and telecommunications facilities, which narrows the reach of the wage mandate.