State Legislation

A Win for Fair and Open Competition: Wyoming Passes Law Restricting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

0 March 27, 2023  Featured, Federal Construction, State & Local Construction

Associated Builders and Contractors praised the Wyoming legislature and Gov. Mark Gordon for enacting SF 147, the Fair and Open Competition Act, which protects Wyoming taxpayers by ensuring all of the state’s skilled construction workforce can compete on a level playing field for contracts to build state, state-assisted and local public works projects. Once in […]

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2021 Update: Courts Rule in Favor of #NoPLA Laws Promoting Fair and Open Competition

0 February 17, 2021  Featured, Federal Construction, State & Local Construction

Numerous courts continue to uphold pro-taxpayer federal and state laws and/or executive orders prohibiting anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements. Advocates of government-mandated PLA schemes have been unsuccessful in challenging such laws in the courts. As discussed in this February 4, 2021, letter to the Biden administration, ABC supports fair and open competition laws […]

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2020 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

0 September 22, 2020  Federal Construction, Open Competition Works, State & Local Construction

In February 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate project labor agreements on large-scale federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in total cost on a case-by-case basis and permits recipients of federal assistance to mandate PLAs on state and local public works projects. Many merit shop advocates and public policy professionals predicted […]

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Virginia Delays Enactment of Prevailing Wage and PLA Mandate Laws Until May 2021

0 April 23, 2020  Featured, State & Local Construction

During its annual reconvene/veto session April 22, the Virginia General Assembly agreed with Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and delayed the effective date of two laws permitting prevailing wage and project labor agreement requirements on taxpayer-funded public works projects. The General Assembly originally sent these bills, passed via party line votes, to the desk of Gov. […]

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Virginia General Assembly Sends Project Labor Agreement and Prevailing Wage Legislation to Gov. Northam – Take Action

0 March 11, 2020  School Construction, State & Local Construction, Transportation & Infrastructure

Virginia’s General Assembly has sent legislation to Gov. Ralph Northam’s desk that will needlessly increase the cost of taxpayer-funded public works construction projects, discourage competition from Virginia’s construction workforce and businesses. In addition, the legislation will steer contracts to out-of-state workers and firms instead of creating opportunities for certified small, women and minority contractors to […]

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Virginia Considers Legislation Requiring Project Labor Agreements and Prevailing Wage on Public Works Construction

0 February 10, 2020  State & Local Construction

Legislation in Virginia’s General Assembly will lead to tax hikes or fewer public works construction projects procured by the Commonwealth’s state and local governments. In addition, it will needlessly increase construction costs and steer contracts to out-of-state unionized businesses and unionized workers at the expense of Virginia’s construction industry.

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Nevada’s Anti-Free Enterprise Lawmakers Rescind Fair and Open Competition Law

0 May 29, 2019  State & Local Construction

On May 28, 2019, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed a bill (SB 231) that will hurt Nevada’s taxpayers and construction industry by reinstating controversial government-mandated project labor agreements on certain Nevada public works projects. SB 231 repealed a 2015 law (AB 159) passed by the then GOP-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. Sandoval (R). […]

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Washington Times Publishes TheTruthAboutPLAs Op-Ed Celebrating Kentucky’s Fair and Open Competition Law

0 April 1, 2019  Featured, State & Local Construction

The Washington Times published this op-ed by TheTruthAboutPLAs.com touting the benefits of fair and open competition following the passage of a Kentucky law (HB 135) restricting controversial government-mandated project labor agreements on state and local public works construction projects (“Let’s welcome all Americans to rebuild America’s infrastructure,” 4/1/19): On March 21, Gov. Matt Bevin, R-Ky., […]

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New Kentucky Law a Win-Win for Construction Industry, State Economy, Says ABC

0 March 25, 2019  Open Competition Works, State & Local Construction

Law will ensure fair and open competition on public works construction contracts WASHINGTON, March 25—Associated Builders and Contractors lauded Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) today for signing into law the Fair and Open Competition Act (HB 135), which ensures all of Kentucky’s skilled construction workforce and qualified businesses can compete on a level playing field […]

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