Labor & Employment

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.

This bill changes Utah's wage law by setting a one-year time limit for employees to sue employers over unpaid wages exceeding $10,000. For claims under $10,000, employees must first use administrative processes before filing a lawsuit, unless they combine claims (with other employees or additional claims against the same employer) totaling over $10,000. The law also adds daily penalties of 2.5% for unpaid wages after a court order. It directly affects employees seeking unpaid wages and employers who owe them. The bill takes effect May 6, 2026.