Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) March 4 signed legislation which says that government entities within the state cannot require contractors to sign a project labor agreement (PLA), or any other agreement with labor unions, as a condition of performing work on taxpayer-funded construction projects in the state. This bill marks Alabama as the 19th state to adopt PLA reform.

With this bill, Alabama marks the 15th state to enact reform since President Obama issued Executive Order 13502 in February 2009, which encourages PLAs to be required on federal construction projects and allows state and local governments to require PLAs on federally assisted projects.

In addition, the South Dakota Legislature passed a similar bill which will ensure government neutrality on taxpayer funded construction projects and is expected to be signed within the week.