HB 245 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Construction Wage Standard Act

HB 245, the Construction Wage Standard Act, requires contractors working on Utah public construction projects (costing $100,000 or more) to pay qualifying employees at least the minimum wage set by the Labor Commission for their occupation and county. The Labor Commission must determine and publish these wage standards annually, based on prevailing wages, and contractors must keep records of wages paid. This applies to workers directly on-site (excluding transport workers or prisoners) for projects like roads, schools, or public buildings funded partly by taxpayer money. Noncompliance carries penalties, but the bill does not appropriate new state funds.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Failed

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill introduces a new 'Construction Wage Standard Act' to establish minimum wage requirements for workers on public construction projects. It creates a new legal framework where the Labor Commission sets specific wage standards based on local prevailing wages, replacing previous vague prohibitions against paying predetermined wage rates. The bill also clarifies definitions for public projects and adds specific recordkeeping and civil penalty provisions to ensure compliance.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope by creating a new chapter (Title 34, Chapter 58) dedicated to construction wage standards, while simultaneously amending existing public works laws to remove restrictions that prevented contractors from being required to pay these new standards. It specifically targets public facilities costing at least $100,000.

REQUIREMENT

Establishes a new legal requirement for contractors to pay qualifying employees at least the wage standard determined by the Labor Commission for their specific occupation and county.

Mandates that contractors keep payroll records for three years and that procurement units include wage standards in all bid invitations.

DEFINITION

Creates new definitions for 'Construction project' (projects costing at least $100,000), 'Qualifying employee' (laborers and mechanics on-site), and 'Wage standard' (minimum wage based on prevailing wage data).

ELIGIBILITY

Removes previous language that prohibited the state from requiring contractors to pay specific wage rates, allowing the new wage standard requirements to take effect.

ENFORCEMENT

Adds criminal penalties for violations and new civil remedies allowing employees to sue for unpaid wage differences, plus interest and attorney fees.

TECHNICAL

Updates definitions in the state procurement code to clarify terms like 'Construction project' and 'Construction subcontractor' to align with the new wage standards.

Floor votes · House Feb 20, 2026

How they voted

25–46

Failed · 4 other

Total votes 75

Feb 20, 2026

D Democratic14

14 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican61

11 Yea 46 Nay 4

75% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 20, 2026

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (25-46-4)

house

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors