Transportation contracting

AN ACT Relating to making transportation projects on state-owned 1
highways subject to certain contracting conditions; amending RCW 2
39.12.015; adding a new section to chapter 47.04 RCW; and adding a 3
new section to chapter 39.12 RCW. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 47.04 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
Contracts for transportation projects on state-owned highways 8
must be bid or awarded in compliance with prevailing wages 9
established under section 2 of this act. 10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 39.12 11
RCW to read as follows: 12
For contracts bid or awarded on or after June 1, 2029, for 13
projects on state-owned highways, and notwithstanding RCW 14
39.12.010(1): 15
(1) The industrial statistician shall establish the prevailing 16
rate of wage by adopting the hourly wage, usual benefits, and 17
overtime paid for the geographic jurisdiction established in 18
collective bargaining agreements for those trades and occupations 19
that have collective bargaining agreements. 20
S-4464.2
SENATE BILL 6345
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Liias, King, Chapman, Krishnadasan, Lovick, Muzzall, and
Dozier
Read first time 02/03/26. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 6345
(2)(a) For trades and occupations with more than one collective 1
bargaining agreement in the county, the industrial statistician shall 2
determine and prevail the rate that represents the majority of 3
workers, laborers, or mechanics in the same trade or occupation under 4
the collective bargaining agreements. In the event there is not a 5
majority of workers, laborers, or mechanics in the same trade or 6
occupation paid at the same rate, then the rate representing the most 7
workers, laborers, or mechanics in the same trade or occupation 8
prevails. The industrial statistician shall consider the applicable 9
collective bargaining agreements and may seek input from the labor 10
and management signatory parties and their multiemployer bargaining 11
unit representatives, if applicable, regarding which rate is the 12
majority rate, or the rate representing the most workers, laborers, 13
or mechanics in the same trade or occupation in the event there is no 14
majority. In no case where there is a collective bargaining agreement 15
within a county, shall the industrial statistician conduct wage 16
surveys or otherwise apply hours worked data to set the prevailing 17
rate of wage, except that it may apply hours worked data to resolve 18
an appeal under (b) of this subsection. 19
(b) An interested party may appeal a determination by the 20
industrial statistician under (a) of this subsection. The interested 21
party must allege and prove by competent evidence that the actual 22
rate used in the determination is not the rate representing the 23
majority number or plurality of workers, laborers, or mechanics in 24
the same trade or occupation under the collective bargaining 25
agreements. Until final determination thereof, the work in question 26
proceeds under the rate established by the industrial statistician.27
(3) For trades and occupations in which there are no collective 28
bargaining agreements in the county, the industrial statistician 29
shall establish the prevailing rate of wage as defined in RCW 30
39.12.010 by conducting wage and hour surveys. In instances when 31
there are no applicable collective bargaining agreements and 32
conducting wage and hour surveys is not feasible, the industrial 33
statistician may employ other appropriate methods to establish the 34
prevailing rate of wage. 35
Sec. 3. RCW 39.12.015 and 2019 c 29 s 2 are each amended to read 36
as follows: 37
p. 2 SB 6345
(1) All determinations of the prevailing rate of wage shall be 1
made by the industrial statistician of the department of labor and 2
industries. 3
(2) The time period for recovery of any wages owed to a worker 4
affected by the determination is tolled until the prevailing wage 5
determination is final. 6
(3)(a) Except as provided in RCW 39.12.017 and section 2 of this 7
act, and notwithstanding RCW 39.12.010(1), the industrial 8
statistician shall establish the prevailing rate of wage by adopting 9
the hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime paid for the geographic 10
jurisdiction established in collective bargaining agreements for 11
those trades and occupations that have collective bargaining 12
agreements. For trades and occupations with more than one collective 13
bargaining agreement in the county, the higher rate will prevail.14
(b) For trades and occupations in which there are no collective 15
bargaining agreements in the county, the industrial statistician 16
shall establish the prevailing rate of wage as defined in RCW 17
39.12.010 by conducting wage and hour surveys. In instances when 18
there are no applicable collective bargaining agreements and 19
conducting wage and hour surveys is not feasible, the industrial 20
statistician may employ other appropriate methods to establish the 21
prevailing rate of wage. 22
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p. 3 SB 6345