Public works contracts; prevailing wage rate, definitions, civil penalty.

Removed the requirement for local governments to adopt ordinances and enforce prevailing wage rates on their public works projects.

Deleted the provision allowing localities to disqualify contractors who fail to pay prevailing wages.

Added specific exclusions for broadband/telecommunications projects and low-income housing projects from the prevailing wage requirements.

Changed the prevailing wage definition to explicitly exclude the previously listed infrastructure and housing categories.

Removed penalties and civil liability provisions that specifically targeted local government contractors.

Added a future effective date of July 1, 2027, for public institutions of higher education applying the prevailing wage rule.

Changed the bill title to reflect 'civil penalty' instead of 'penalty' and updated the committee sponsorship details.

Added amendments to Code of Virginia sections 23.1-1003 and 23.1-1006 to formally extend the prevailing wage law's application to public institutions of higher education.

Updated the bill header to reflect the new committee (Finance and Appropriations) and the revised list of affected code sections.

Removed the original Commerce and Labor Committee header and the specific reference to section 40.1-6 in the bill's introductory summary, though section 40.1-6 remains amended in the body text.

Deleted the specific requirement for 'covered institutions' (public universities) to pay prevailing wages on contracts initiated after July 1, 2027, if paid for by state general funds or state debt.

Changed the definition of 'State agency' to explicitly include 'any public institution of higher education,' effectively broadening the category of entities subject to the law despite the removal of the specific university mandate in the previous section.

Added a new definition for 'Financial assistance' to include grants, loans, tax abatements, and other financial support provided by state agencies or localities.

Modified the definition of 'Public works' to include projects where a state agency or locality has provided financial assistance, specifically if at least 55% of the facility is leased by the government and covers more than 10,000 square feet.

Removed the requirement for covered institutions to pay prevailing wages on contracts paid for by funds other than state appropriated funds.

Deleted the provision allowing localities to adopt ordinances requiring prevailing wages for contracts paid for in whole or in part by locality funds, limiting the requirement only to state-funded projects.

Added new definitions for 'Area' (planning districts for wage data) and 'Type of construction' (categories like building, residential, heavy, highway).

Added the definition of 'Covered institution' to specify which public universities are subject to the bill.

Modified the definition of 'public works' to explicitly exclude work on non-governmental properties used for broadband or telecommunications services.

Added a new requirement (Subsection K) mandating that employers hire workers who have either graduated from a registered apprenticeship program or completed four years of verified work experience.

Removed the requirement for localities to adopt an ordinance to trigger prevailing wage rules, applying them directly to state agencies and covered institutions instead.

Added a future effective date for covered institutions (July 1, 2027) and a threshold of $5 million for their contracts.

Added specific conditions regarding state general funds and state general fund debt for covered institutions.