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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB 518

Public works contracts; prevailing wage rate, definitions, civil penalty.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (2)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Prevailing wage rate for public works contracts; localities. Requires each state agency or locality, when procuring services or letting contracts for public works paid for in whole or in part by state or local funds, or when overseeing or administering such contracts for public works, to ensure that its bid specifications or other public contracts applicable to the public works require bidders, offerors, contractors, and subcontractors to pay wages, salaries, benefits, and other remuneration to any mechanic, laborer, or worker employed, retained, or otherwise hired to perform services in connection with the public contract for public works at a rate no less than the prevailing wage rate. The bill also amends the definition of "public works" to include work performed at certain institutions of higher education and to exclude work performed at a non-governmental property or facility used to provide broadband or other telecommunications services. Under the bill, a contractor or subcontractor may be liable to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry for liquidated damages for violating the prevailing wage requirements in the bill. Under the bill, any interested party shall have standing to challenge bid specifications, project agreements, or other public contracts for public works that violate the provisions of the bill. The bill requires institutions of higher education to expressly agree to comply with the public works contract requirements. Under the bill, the Commissioner shall determine the prevailing wage based on a survey of wages and benefits paid in each area, as defined in the bill, conducted every two years. The bill includes factors for the Commissioner to consider in determining a prevailing wage rate. The bill directs the Commissioner to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. This bill incorporates SB 370 and is identical to HB 569.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 14, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 13, 2026
Senate		Adopt Conference Committee Report RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 12, 2026
Senate		Accede Conference Committee RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 11, 2026
Senate		Concur House Substitute RfailSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 10, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 4, 2026
House		Reported from AppropriationspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 3, 2026
House		Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 16, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 12, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 11, 2026
Senate		Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 2, 2026
Senate		Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 21, 2026
Senate		Rereferred from General Laws and TechnologypassSet your home in Virginia to see

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