Labor & Employment (Minimum Wage)

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.

SB 179 establishes Utah's minimum wage at $20 per hour for all private and public employees, effective May 6, 2026. It requires employers with 15 or more staff to disclose minimum and maximum wages, plus any benefits (like bonuses or stock), in all job listings. The Labor Commission must adjust this minimum wage annually for inflation and cannot set it below $20 per hour. The bill also updates wage-related definitions and prevents cities or counties from imposing higher minimum wages than the state.