Please contact your legislators and ask them to do the following:

• OPPOSE SB 518 & HB 569
   

Why are we asking you to oppose this legislation?

HB 339 & SB 518 impose sweeping new prevailing wage mandates on public construction that will increase costs, reduce competition, and exclude large segments of Virginia’s construction workforce—without improving project outcomes.

The legislation makes prevailing wage mandatory on state, local, and higher-education construction projects, eliminating the ability of public owners to tailor bid specifications to local market conditions or specific project needs. This mandate will significantly increase construction costs across the Commonwealth.

The bills also impose substantial new administrative burdens, including certified payroll reporting, expanded recordkeeping, postings, and compliance documentation. These requirements disproportionately impact smaller contractors that may lack the administrative capacity to absorb these costs, reducing competition and participation on public projects.

Finally, the legislation excludes thousands of Virginia construction workers from public projects by barring workers who have not completed an apprenticeship or four years of verified experience. Tens of thousands of lawful, skilled workers who have chosen alternative career pathways would be locked out of public construction during their first four years, shrinking the labor pool and worsening workforce shortages.

Contact your Delegates & Senators now and ask them to vote against these harmful bills.

There are better ways to control costs and support workforce development. Expanding rigid prevailing wage mandates and excluding large segments of Virginia’s construction workforce is not the solution.

They will harm Virginia-based construction workers.
 

NOTE:  Please do NOT forward this email; instead, please ask others to visit votervoice.net/VAAGC/home if they would like to take action by contacting legislators.