Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed legislation June 9 to make Nevada the 23rd state to restrict the ability of state and local government entities to implement wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) mandates on taxpayer-funded construction projects.

Since President Barack Obama issued his executive order encouraging federal agencies to implement these mandates on large-scale construction projects, 20 states have taken action on the PLA issue.

The new Nevada statute will prohibit PLA mandates on nearly all state and local construction projects. In addition, it will prohibit state and local governments from requiring PLA mandates as a condition of receiving financial support for construction. The statute will allow airports and water authorities to require contractors enter into a PLA as a condition of performing work on some critical infrastructure projects, although it will require both to notify the public and to hold a hearing in advance of instituting the mandate. This will give stakeholders and the public an opportunity to express their opposition to a proposed PLA before entering into it is a requirement for contractors interested in performing work on these projects.

More information on the PLA reform in Nevada and other states considering banning the mandate is available on thetruthaboutplas.com.