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Bill to update prevailing wages annually draws split testimony from trades and contractors

Washington State Senate Labor and Workplace Standards Committee · February 18, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Engrossed SB 50-61 would require public-works contracts to update prevailing wage rates annually rather than lock them at bid; building trades endorsed the change to protect wages, while contractors urged change-order guardrails to address unpredictable CBA-driven spikes.

The Senate committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute SB 50-61 on Feb. 18, a bill that would require public-works contracts to update prevailing-wage hourly rates annually throughout a project rather than freeze rates at the bid date. Proponents said the measure protects skilled workers on multi-year projects; opponents warned it could expose contractors — especially smaller firms — to unpredictable rate…

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