# Virginia SB518: Public works contracts; prevailing wage rate, definitions, civil penalty.

Virginia SB518, Public works contracts; prevailing wage rate, definitions, civil penalty., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-22 (House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB518-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB518
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Public works contracts; prevailing wage rate, definitions, civil penalty.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-22, House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A)
- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 17 (394 yes, 224 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Prevailing wage rate for public works contracts; localities. Requires each state agency or locality, when procuring services or letting contracts for public works paid for in whole or in part by state or local funds, or when overseeing or administering such contracts for public works, to ensure that its bid specifications or other public contracts applicable to the public works require bidders, offerors, contractors, and subcontractors to pay wages, salaries, benefits, and other remuneration to any mechanic, laborer, or worker employed, retained, or otherwise hired to perform services in connection with the public contract for public works at a rate no less than the prevailing wage rate. The bill also amends the definition of "public works" to include work performed at certain institutions of higher education and to exclude work performed at a non-governmental property or facility used to provide broadband or other telecommunications services. Under the bill, a contractor or subcontractor may be liable to the Commissioner of Labor and Industry for liquidated damages for violating the prevailing wage requirements in the bill. Under the bill, any interested party shall have standing to challenge bid specifications, project agreements, or other public contracts for public works that violate the provisions of the bill. The bill requires institutions of higher education to expressly agree to comply with the public works contract requirements. Under the bill, the Commissioner shall determine the prevailing wage based on a survey of wages and benefits paid in each area, as defined in the bill, conducted every two years. The bill includes factors for the Commissioner to consider in determining a prevailing wage rate. The bill directs the Commissioner to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. This bill incorporates SB 370 and is identical to HB 569.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Wage floors for college project workers: benefit, medium. Workers on qualifying public college projects get at least the prevailing wage-and-benefit rate for contracts initiated after July 1, 2027. The college must have a management agreement with Virginia, and the contract must total at least $5 million. Funding must come partly or wholly from state gene…
- Wage floors for public project workers: benefit, medium. Workers get at least the prevailing wage-and-benefit rate on state agency public works contracts over $250,000 funded partly or wholly with state money. Local contracts over $250,000 using local money have the same requirement where the locality adopts a prevailing wage ordinance. Virginia sets rat…
- Telecom workers excluded from wage floors: cost, medium. This law's prevailing wage rules do not cover work at non-governmental properties or facilities used for broadband or other telecommunications services. The exclusion applies even when government grants or infrastructure programs helped build the site. A partial federal or state interest in the pro…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Aaron R. Rouse (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-22 | Senate | Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-04-22 | House | House concurred in Governor's recommendation | pass | 64 | 34 |   |
| 2026-03-14 | House | Conference report agreed to by House | pass | 62 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-13 | Senate | Conference report agreed to by Senate | pass | 21 | 18 |   |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Senate acceded to request Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | House substitute rejected by Senate | fail | 0 | 40 |   |
| 2026-03-10 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 63 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Reported from Appropriations | pass | 14 | 7 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | House | Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations | pass | 15 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-16 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 20 | 19 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-11 | Senate | Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute | pass | 10 | 5 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-01-21 | Senate | Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Commerce and Labor | pass | 15 | 0 |   |

## Actions (63)

- 2026-04-22: House concurred in Governor's recommendation (64-Y 34-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-04-22: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1014) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled bill text (SB518ER2) (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Reenrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1014 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-04-22: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-04-22: Governor's recommendation adopted (Governor)
- 2026-04-16: Substitute bill reprinted 26110431D (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Governor's recommendation received by Senate (Governor)
- 2026-04-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518) (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB518ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518) (Senate)
- 2026-03-14: Conference report agreed to by House (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-13: Conference report agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-13: Conference Report released
- 2026-03-12: House Conferees: Feggans, McQuinn, Bloxom (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by House (House)
- 2026-03-12: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: House requested conference committee (House)
- 2026-03-12: House insisted on substitute (House)
- 2026-03-12: Conferees appointed by Senate (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Conferees: Rouse, McPike, Pillion (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518) (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Passed House with substitute (63-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-10: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-10: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-10: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-09: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-03-06: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Appropriations (14-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-03-03: Committee substitute printed 26109033D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-03: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-03-03: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (15-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB518) (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce (House)
- 2026-02-19: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-19: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-16: Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 19-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute rejected (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: Committee substitute printed 26107221D-S2 (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Committee substitute printed 26106808D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Incorporates SB370 (Carroll Foy) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Fiscal Impact statement From CLG (1/22/2026 2:50 pm) (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Commerce and Labor (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105263D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225126.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225125.PDF)
- Reenrolled, 2026-04-22: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221793.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221792.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-04-16: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220579.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220578.PDF)
- Gov Recommendation, 2026-04-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220070.HTML)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214466.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214465.PDF)
- Conference Report, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210114.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-03-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210111.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210110.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191057.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191700.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191699.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191056.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145719.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145718.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108476.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108475.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107831.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107830.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090646.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090645.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225126.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1225125.PDF)
- [Reenrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221793.HTML)
- [Reenrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1221792.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220579.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220578.PDF)
- [Gov Recommendation (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1220070.HTML)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214466.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1214465.PDF)
- [Conference Report (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210114.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210111.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1210110.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191057.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191700.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191699.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191056.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145719.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1145718.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108476.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108475.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107831.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107830.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090646.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090645.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB518-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).