HB 1723
In CommitteeHouse
School construction projects
Promoting the efficient administration of school construction assistance program projects.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires public school districts to use project labor agreements for large school construction projects ($35 million or more) to promote labor stability, efficiency, and job creation. It sets clear rules for how these agreements must be structured and allows exceptions under specific conditions.
- Requires school districts to use project labor agreements (PLAs) for school construction projects costing $35 million or more.
- Defines a project labor agreement as a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement covering all contractors, subcontractors, and labor unions on a single project.
- Sets specific requirements for PLAs, including guarantees against strikes, dispute resolution procedures, and labor-management cooperation on safety and quality.
- Allows the Department of Labor and Industries to grant exceptions if requiring a PLA would harm competition, reduce efficiency, or conflict with state law.
- Exempts projects funded under specific existing school construction statutes (RCW 28A.525.159 and 28A.525.320) from the PLA requirement.
Who is affected
- Public school districts — School districts must require project labor agreements for large construction projects ($35 million or more), which may affect how they plan and award contracts.
- Construction contractors and subcontractors — Construction contractors and subcontractors working on qualifying school projects must agree to work under a project labor agreement, which sets unified labor terms for the project.
- Labor unions — Labor unions may gain more consistent involvement in large school construction projects through standardized agreements, potentially increasing organizing opportunities.
- Washington State Department of Labor and Industries — The Department of Labor and Industries gains authority to grant exceptions to the project labor agreement requirement under specific conditions.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
PLA requirements mandating dispute resolution, no-strike clauses, and labor-management cooperation on safety and quality can reduce work stoppages and improve construction safety and quality—directly benefiting school staff, students, and communities who rely on safe, well-built facilities.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(c)-(e)By requiring unified labor terms on large school projects, the bill strengthens union organizing and job stability for construction workers, increasing wages, benefits, and training access—particularly for non-traditional workers (e.g., apprentices, immigrants, people of color) who benefit from standardized, union-negotiated terms.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2 & Sec. 3(1)PLAs allow all contractors to compete regardless of existing union affiliation, which can level the playing field for union-friendly non-union shops and increase predictability in labor costs—potentially reducing cost overruns and delays on large projects, benefiting school districts and taxpayers.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(b)The exception process—allowing the Department of Labor and Industries to waive PLA requirements for specific projects—preserves flexibility for unique or time-sensitive projects, preventing overreach while maintaining the default PLA standard for large-scale work.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 4
Potential Concerns (4)
Mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) for large school construction projects ($35M+) may reduce competition among contractors, especially non-union firms, by raising barriers to entry; this can limit bidding pools and potentially increase project costs, which ultimately burden school districts and taxpayers.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(1)The exception process—requiring the Department of Labor and Industries to approve waivers based on market analysis—adds administrative complexity and potential delays for school districts seeking to proceed with time-sensitive construction, especially in rural or small-district contexts with limited procurement staff.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(2)The exemption for projects funded under RCW 28A.525.159 and 28A.525.320 (the School Capital Improvement Program and School Bond Fund programs) creates inconsistency: smaller, lower-cost projects (which make up most school construction) remain outside the PLA requirement, meaning only the largest 10–15% of projects are affected, limiting overall impact while still imposing new administrative burdens on those few large projects.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(4)While PLAs may increase union hiring on qualifying projects, they may also discourage participation by minority- and women-owned businesses that lack existing union ties or apprenticeship access, potentially reducing diversity in construction contracting on large public projects.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(1)
Who Is Most Affected
School districts gain standardized labor expectations on large projects, reducing labor disputes and potential delays—but face added administrative burden in PLA negotiation and compliance, especially for districts without dedicated procurement staff.
Unionized contractors benefit from stable labor relations and predictable workforce access; non-union contractors may face higher compliance costs and reduced competitive advantage, especially if they lack union partnerships or apprenticeship pipelines.
Labor unions gain increased bargaining power and organizing opportunities on large public projects, potentially expanding membership and influence—especially beneficial for craft unions with strong apprenticeship programs.
The Department of Labor and Industries gains new authority over PLA exceptions, expanding its regulatory footprint—but must invest staff time in reviewing waiver requests and issuing guidance, potentially diverting resources from other enforcement priorities.
Families and students benefit indirectly from more stable, timely school construction (e.g., new buildings, seismic upgrades), but may bear opportunity costs if district resources are diverted to PLA compliance rather than classroom needs.