A judge has ruled that Oregon Governor Tina Kotek overstepped her authority when she mandated project labor agreements on state construction projects. An executive order issued by Kotek in December 2024 directed all state agencies to require their construction contractors and subcontractors to sign project labor agreements committing to use union labor.
But in February 2025, Associated General Contractors led a lawsuit along with several construction companies that challenged Kotek’s legal authority to do that. The following month Marion County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Hart blocked the order from taking effect while the lawsuit moved forward. In his final ruling in the case March 12, 2026, Hart agreed with AGC.
“We disagree with Judge Hart’s decision,” said Robert Camarillo, executive secretary of Oregon Building Trades Unions.
The top Republican in the Oregon House meanwhile applauded the judge’s ruling in a press statement: “This executive order would have undermined competition,” said the statement attributed to House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer.
The State of Oregon could appeal the judge’s decision, but as of March 24 no decision about that had been made, according to a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General.
