This bill aims to enhance the administration of school construction assistance program projects in Washington by promoting the use of project labor agreements (PLAs). It defines a project labor agreement as a prehire collective bargaining agreement that sets employment terms for a specific construction project, requiring all contractors and subcontractors involved to negotiate or become parties to such agreements for projects with an estimated cost of $35 million or more. The bill outlines specific requirements for these agreements, including binding all contractors, allowing competition regardless of existing collective bargaining agreements, and ensuring mechanisms for labor-management cooperation and dispute resolution.

Additionally, the bill provides a framework for exceptions to the PLA requirement, allowing the Department of Labor and Industries to grant exemptions based on specific circumstances, such as the project's duration, complexity, or urgency. It also clarifies that projects funded under certain existing laws are exempt from these requirements, while still allowing school districts the discretion to require PLAs in other situations. The new sections added to chapter 28A.525 RCW establish these provisions and emphasize the importance of PLAs in fostering job creation and economic efficiency in state capital projects.