CARSON CITY, Nev.—The Nevada state Assembly voted Apr. 29 to repeal a 2015 state law that weakened the state’s prevailing wage requirements. Assembly Bill 136, which passed on a 28-12 party-line vote, would reverse the 2015 law’s reducing wages for school construction projects to 90% of the local prevailing wage, eliminate its exemption for charter-school construction, and lower the threshold for projects to be covered from $250,000 to $100,000. “In 2015, the Nevada Legislature undermined Nevada’s workforce by gutting prevailing wage protections in state construction projects,” Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson (D-Las Vegas) stated. By requiring contractors to pay prevailing wages, he added, “we not only support our local labor force by providing competitive wages, but we will also attract the most qualified workers.” Assemblymember Alexis Hansen (R-Sparks) voted no, saying the bill would “eliminate the ability for many charter schools to expand” and “add further pressure on our already struggling public school system.” The bill now goes to the state Senate, which passed a similar measure in 2017 that was vetoed by then-Gov. Brian Sandoval. Gov. Steve Sisolak pledged in January that he would “work to return prevailing wage to public construction projects.” Read more
