Texas prevailing-wage law puts the rate decision in the hands of the public body awarding the contract, and many Texas public bodies simply adopt the federal Davis-Bacon determination. The items below link to the statute sections they come from.
Texas prevailing wage requirements for public work are in Texas Government Code Chapter 2258. Under § 2258.022, the public body determines the prevailing rate either by conducting a survey of wages on similar projects or by using the prevailing wage rate determined by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Davis-Bacon Act.
Source: Texas Government Code § 2258.022 (verified 2026-08-24)
Under § 2258.023, a contractor or subcontractor who pays a worker less than the stipulated rate owes the public body $60 for each worker for each calendar day (or part of a day) the worker is underpaid, and the contract must specify this penalty.
Source: Texas Government Code § 2258.023 (verified 2026-08-24)
Chapter 2258 requires contractors and subcontractors to keep records on the workers employed on the contract (§ 2258.024, 'Records'). Federally funded Texas projects additionally follow the federal weekly certified-payroll rule.
Source: Texas Government Code Chapter 2258 (verified 2026-08-24)
On federally financed or assisted construction, each contractor and subcontractor must furnish a statement each week on the wages paid to each employee during the prior week (40 U.S.C. § 3145).
Source: 40 U.S.C. § 3145 (U.S. Code, Office of the Law Revision Counsel) (verified 2026-08-24)
Under 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(ii), contractors must submit certified payrolls weekly for each week in which covered work is performed. The payroll needs only an individually identifying number for each worker — for example, the last four digits of the worker's Social Security number — and each submission carries a signed Statement of Compliance. Optional Form WH-347 satisfies the requirement.
Source: 29 CFR 5.5 (Cornell Legal Information Institute) (verified 2026-08-24)
Davis-Bacon wage determinations are published by the U.S. Department of Labor on SAM.gov, searchable by WD number or by location and construction category.
Source: SAM.gov Wage Determinations (verified 2026-08-24)
This page summarizes public statutes with sources; it is not legal advice. If your job is federally funded, set up the job free and Payrollproof prepares the weekly WH-347-equivalent report from the published wage determination for your county and trade.