WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HF 478

A bill for an act requiring the payment of local prevailing wage rates to persons working on public improvements for public bodies, providing remedies and penalties, and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Jacoby

Public bodies must pay local prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits on public improvements, tying pay to local standards with remedies for noncompliance.

Introduced, referred to Labor and Workforce.
#publicimprovements #salariesandwages
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 478

HF 478 — Summary

Bill number: HF 478
Short title: A bill for an act requiring the payment of local prevailing wage rates to persons working on public improvements for public bodies, providing remedies and penalties, and including effective date provisions.
Status: Introduced, referred to Labor and Workforce (February 19, 2025)
Sponsor: Jacoby (primary)

Purpose and intent

HF 478 requires public bodies to pay local prevailing wage rates to workers on public improvements. The bill also signals that remedies and penalties for noncompliance, as well as effective date provisions, are included. The goal is to ensure that wages on public improvement projects reflect local wage standards and related fringe benefits.

Key provisions (as introduced)

  • Public bodies must pay prevailing wage rates published by the director for workers on a public improvement project (whether a contract is awarded or work is undertaken) and must include these rates in procurement documents. These rates remain in effect for the duration of the project unless superseded by a later director publication, or unless multiyear prevailing wage rates have been published at the time procurement documents were released.

  • Determination of the prevailing wage rate (for each craft, classification, or worker type):

    • The director must consider:
    • Wage rates and fringe benefits from applicable collective bargaining agreements,
    • Federal prevailing wage determinations for public improvements within the locality,
    • Data from any prevailing wage survey of contractors participating in U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs,
    • Other data the department obtains during such surveys.
    • The prevailing wage rate will be calculated as the wage rate plus fringe benefits most commonly required for each local craft/class/type.

  • Minimum prevailing wage rate:

    • The department’s minimum annual prevailing wage rate must not be lower than the federal prevailing wage determinations in the locality and the nearest labor market area.

  • Fringe benefits:

    • Fringe benefits enumerated in the chapter cannot be considered if the contractor or subcontractor is already required by other federal, state, or local law to provide those benefits.

Who is affected

  • Public bodies undertaking public improvements (e.g., construction, repair, or improvement projects) must incorporate prevailing wage rates into procurement documents and project pay.
  • Contractors and subcontractors performing work on public improvement projects are subject to pay rates determined under the bill.
  • Workers on these projects would receive wages aligned with local prevailing wage determinations, including fringe benefits where applicable.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Labor and Workforce committee; no further committee action details are provided here.
  • Effective date provisions are included in the bill’s title, but specific dates or transition timelines are not included in the provided text.
  • The sponsor listed is Jacoby (primary).

Potential impact (high-level)

  • Wage standards on public improvement projects would be aligned with local conditions, potentially increasing labor costs on some projects but improving wage competitiveness and coverage for workers.
  • Public bodies would rely on the director’s annual determinations and publication cycle to define pay scales for projects.
  • The bill introduces enforcement through remedies and penalties (details not provided in the excerpt), which could affect compliance and project administration.

Note: This summary reflects the introduced text provided. If enacted, further details in the final bill language would clarify remedies, penalties, and exact implementation timelines.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.