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Bill Summary · HB 6051

Summary — HB 6051 (Substitute H-2)

Title: Labor: hours and wages; prevailing wage; require on certain broadband service projects
Introduced: Nov. 7, 2024 (Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou) — Substitute (H‑2) adopted Dec. 13, 2024
Status: Placed on third reading (most recent action Jan. 22, 2025 — referred to Joint Comm. on General Law)

Purpose / intent

HB 6051 would expand Michigan’s prevailing wage law (2023 PA 10) to cover certain broadband infrastructure projects by treating them as “state projects.” The intent is to require contractors and subcontractors who build, improve, or maintain broadband hardware in Michigan to pay wages and fringe benefits at or above the locally prevailing rates already required on state construction and specified energy projects.

Key provisions

  • Amends section 1 of 2023 PA 10 (MCL 408.1101) to add definitions and include broadband projects within the act’s scope.
  • Defines “broadband developer” as a person that provides, improves, or expands broadband service in Michigan.
  • Defines “broadband service” as any voice, video, or data service that provides transmission capacity in excess of 200 kilobits per second in at least one direction, regardless of technology (wireless, copper, fiber, coax, etc.).
  • Defines “broadband service project” to mean new construction, improvement, maintenance, expansion, alteration, or demolition of lines, cables, or other broadband hardware performed by a broadband developer.
  • Exempts broadband projects that receive funding through specified federal sources: (i) the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117‑58) and (ii) the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117‑2). (Note: the substitute H‑2 text adopted Dec. 13, 2024 uses these federal program references.)
  • Adds broadband service projects to the statutory definition of “state project,” so prevailing‑wage requirements apply.
  • Expands the definition of “private contracting agent” to include persons entering into contracts for, or directly performing, broadband service projects.
  • Otherwise preserves existing prevailing wage mechanisms: contracts must require payment of wages and fringe benefits equal to or above prevailing local rates; contractors/subcontractors must register annually and submit wage/fringe data to the state payroll database; “construction mechanic” remains the covered worker category (not including executive/administrative/office/custodial employees).

Who is affected

  • Broadband developers and their contractors/subcontractors performing covered broadband projects in Michigan.
  • Public and private contracting agents when entering contracts for broadband service projects.
  • Construction mechanics (laborers, workers, apprentices) on such projects, who would be eligible for prevailing wages and benefits.
  • State and local governments insofar as their procurement and oversight intersect with covered projects.

Fiscal and procedural effects

  • Fiscal impact: indeterminate. Applying prevailing wage requirements could increase labor costs for affected broadband projects, potentially raising overall project costs; exact fiscal effect is uncertain.
  • Legislative status: substitute H‑2 adopted by committee (Dec. 13, 2024); bill placed on third reading. Next steps would be floor action (final House passage, then Senate consideration) if advanced.

Additional context

  • HB 6051 builds on 2023 PA 10, which already extended prevailing‑wage rules to certain energy facility projects (amended July 2024).
  • Stakeholder positions were recorded in committee: labor unions supported the bill; various business, telecom, construction, and regional chamber groups opposed it (committee report, Dec. 12–13, 2024).

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

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