By: Brent Sailhamer, Director of Government Affairs
March 21, 2018

As the state legislature begins to gear up for its annual budget slog ahead of the June 30th deadline, other legislation has begun to fly. Recently, the House State Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), brought up House Bill 1849 for a vote. The bill was introduced by Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and would prohibit the application of project labor agreements (PLAs) on public works projects.

Earlier this year, the State Government Committee held an informational hearing on the bill, where ABC played a pivotal role in providing supportive testimony. ABC members Mark Eckman of J.D. Eckman, Inc., Keith Impink of Westmoreland Electric, Inc., and Ross Myers of Allan A. Myers, Inc. all testified in support of the bill. A critical piece of testimony was the current PLA utilized by PennDOT on a Montgomery County road construction project that would prevent groups like J.D. Eckman, Inc. and Allan A. Myers, Inc. from participating.

At last week’s meeting, the bill was supported by all 13 Republican members present, but received six no votes by the six Democrats present at the meeting. For a full list of members and their votes, click here.

The bill will now head to the House floor for potential action when the House returns to Harrisburg in April.