Colorado § 24-92-115.5 - Public projects - use of project labor agreements - definitions.

§ 24-92-115.5. Public projects - use of project labor agreements - definitions.

[Editor's note: This section is effective July 1, 2027.]

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Agency of government" has the meaning set forth in section 24-92-201 (1).

(b) "Craft labor" means employees who are engaged in the construction of a public project, including all trades, crafts, and occupations that are paid hourly.

(c) "Lead contractor" means a general contractor, construction manager, developer, design builder, or other party that is primarily responsible to an agency of government for performing construction under a contract for a public project.

(d) "Project labor agreement" means a prehire collective bargaining agreement between a lead contractor for a public project of an agency of government and construction labor organizations, including but not limited to the Colorado building and construction trades council and its affiliates or a group of labor unions covering the affected trades necessary to perform work on the public project, that establishes the terms and conditions of employment of the construction workforce on the public project. A project labor agreement must include provisions that:

(I) Set forth effective, immediate, and mutually binding procedures for resolving jurisdictional labor disputes and grievances arising before the completion of work;

(II) Contain guarantees against strikes, lockouts, or similar actions;

(III) Ensure a reliable source of trained, skilled, and experienced craft labor;

(IV) Further public policy objectives regarding improved employment opportunities for minorities, women, or other economically disadvantaged populations in the construction industry, including persons from disproportionately impacted communities, to the extent permitted by state and federal law;

(V) Permit the selection of the lowest qualified responsible bidder or lowest qualified responsible offeror without regard to union or non-union status at other construction sites;

(VI) Bind all contractors and subcontractors on the public project to the project labor agreement through the inclusion of appropriate bid specifications in all relevant contract documents; and

(VII) Include other terms as the parties deem appropriate.

(e) "Public project" has the meaning set forth in section 24-92-201 (5).

(2) An agency of government is authorized to incorporate a project labor agreement requirement for a public project in the amount of one million dollars or more if the project labor agreement will promote successful project delivery by securing a skilled labor force for the project and if it will promote cost efficiency, safety, quality, and timely completion of the project. The determination to enter into a project labor agreement is at the discretion of the agency of government.

Source: L. 2025: Entire section added, (HB 25-1130), ch. 393, p. 2216, § 1, effective July 1, 2027.