contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships..

SB1528 - contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships..

Education Elections Labor Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Flavio Bravo
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Senate second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata indicates an effective date is not yet set, though the bill has passed the legislature.

SB1528: Rules for Public Works Contracts and Apprenticeships

This law stops state agencies and local governments from requiring contractors to pay prevailing wages, sign labor agreements, or join registered apprenticeship programs as a condition of winning public works contracts.

What This Bill Does

Amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 34-321 regarding public policy on wage rates in public works contracts.
Prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from requiring contractors to pay prevailing wages based on local or statewide standards.
Bans requirements for contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, or carriers to sign project labor agreements, neutrality agreements with unions, or participate in registered apprenticeship programs as a condition of bidding or performing work.
Clarifies that these rules do not stop private parties from making their own collective bargaining deals.
Defines specific terms like 'political subdivision' and 'project labor agreement' used within the law.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies in Arizona
Political subdivisions such as cities, counties, school districts, community college districts, multi-county water conservation districts, industrial development authorities, and special taxing districts primarily supported by taxes.
Contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, or carriers bidding on public works projects

Terms To Know

Project labor agreement: Any prehire, collective bargaining, model construction, or similar type of agreement entered into with one or more labor organizations that establishes the terms and conditions of employment on a construction project.
Neutrality agreement: An agreement to remain neutral toward any labor organization, release private employee information not required by federal law, allow access to property beyond what is required by federal law, or recognize a union without a secret ballot election.
Political subdivision: A city, charter city, town, county, school district, community college district, multi-county water conservation district, industrial development authority, or special taxing district primarily supported by taxes.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not stop private parties from entering into individual collective bargaining relationships.
The text states the effective date is unknown in the provided metadata.
This bill applies only to public works contracts involving the construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or improvements.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Senate
Senate second read
2026-02-02 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-02-02 Senate
Senate Government: None
2026-02-02 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1528 - contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships..

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1528 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
contracts; public works; employees; apprenticeships..

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1528

Introduced by

Senator
Bravo

AN
ACT

amending section 34-321, arizona
revised statutes; relating to public works contracts.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 34-321, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
34-321.

Public policy; prevailing wage contracts; prohibited agreements;
definitions

A. The public interest in the rates of wages paid
under public works contracts transcends local or municipal interests and is of
statewide concern.

B. Agencies and political subdivisions of this state
shall not
require
by regulation
,

or
ordinance or in any other manner
,

require
public works contracts to contain a provision
requiring the wages paid by the contractor or any subcontractor to be not less
than the prevailing rate of wages for work of a similar nature in
the
this
state or political subdivision
where the project is located.

C. Agencies and political subdivisions of this state
shall not require in any public works contracts that a contractor,
subcontractor, material supplier or carrier engaged in the construction,
maintenance, repair or improvement of public works do any of the following as a
condition of or a factor in bidding, negotiating, being awarded or performing
work on a public works contract:

1. Negotiate, execute or otherwise become a party to
any project labor agreement or other agreement with employees, employees'
representatives or any labor organization.

2. Enter into a neutrality agreement with any labor
organization.

3. Participate in or contribute to an
apprenticeship program that is registered with the United States department of
labor.

D. Subsection C of this section does not:

1. Prohibit private parties from entering into
individual collective bargaining relationships.

2. Regulate or interfere with activity protected by
law, including the national labor relations act.

E. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Agency" has the same meaning
prescribed in section 41-1001.

2. "Neutrality agreement" includes an
agreement to remain neutral toward any labor organization, release private
employee information not required by federal labor law, allow access to
property beyond what is required by federal labor law and recognize a labor
organization without a secret ballot election conducted pursuant to federal
labor law.

3. "Political subdivision" means a city,
charter city, town, county, school district, community college district,
multi-county water conservation district, industrial development authority or
special taxing district established pursuant to title 48 that is primarily
supported by taxes.

4. "Project
labor agreement" means any prehire, collective bargaining, model
construction or similar type of agreement entered into with one or more labor
organizations, employees or employee representatives that establishes the terms
and conditions of employment on a construction project.

5. "Public works contract" means a
contract to which this state or a political subdivision is a party
involving

and that involves
the employment
of laborers, workmen or mechanics in the construction, alteration or repair of
public buildings or improvements.
END_STATUTE