AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 AND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS.

The minimum aggregate cost threshold for requiring a project labor agreement on school district public works projects was lowered from $5 million (in the amendment) to $1 million in the final bill text.

The bid-based trigger changed significantly. The amendment required 2 or more bids from businesses legally bound to a collective bargaining agreement with the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council. The final bill simply exempts contracts where there was only 1 bid for the craft, meaning PLAs are required regardless of whether bidders are union-bound.

New Section 6960B adds detailed content requirements for project labor agreements, including mandatory provisions for dispute resolution procedures, no-strike/no-lockout guarantees, and scope limitations (applying to construction sites and custom fabrication work). Optional provisions may include disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals, workforce retention percentages, and restrictions on other labor agreements.

A new definition of 'project labor agreement' was added at Section 6902(24) of Title 29, defining it as a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement covering terms and conditions of a specific project, and explicitly including community workforce agreements.

The final bill adds an effective date provision: the requirements apply to public works contracts advertised after December 31, 2026.

A cross-reference was added in Title 14 (school districts) directing school district construction or renovation projects to comply with PLA requirements under Section 6960B of Title 29.