The 2026 legislative sessions in Raleigh and Columbia are active on Carolinas construction policy at a level not seen since the post-COVID recovery. A merit shop is a construction firm that awards work based on merit, regardless of labor affiliation, emphasizing open competition and workforce flexibility. This briefing covers the most important legislative developments and industry trends affecting construction professionals in North and South Carolina. It is designed for merit shop contractors, executives, and industry stakeholders who need to understand how new laws and market shifts will impact their projects, workforce, and bottom line. Merit shop executives need to track which bills affect their backlog, workforce, and bottom line before they reach the floor.
The construction industry in the Carolinas, as of early 2026, is defined by robust, high-demand activity, particularly in data centers, healthcare, industrial manufacturing, and infrastructure, driven by population growth and regional investments. North and South Carolina are outperforming national averages in data centers, power infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and water/sewer utilities, thanks to the experience of construction professionals and a streamlined process that supports project success.
Yet federal tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper have reached up to 50% in early 2026, driving nonresidential input prices up by a 7.1% annualized rate as of January. For related federal policy intelligence, see our Construction Material Tariff Costs 2026 post.
North Carolina’s 2026 short session reconvened in April for budget adjustments and policy bills alive from 2025. South Carolina’s 2025–26 General Assembly is in its second year with crossover deadlines pushing bills toward floors. In cities like Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte, there is a trend of converting older industrial and warehouse spaces into modern, flexible, mixed-use facilities—further amplifying the need for clear, contractor-friendly regulations and highlighting the skilled people involved in these projects and the trust clients place in their expertise.
Design-build and construction management are increasingly important in the construction of healthcare facilities due to their complex regulatory and technical demands. New builds are increasingly incorporating stormwater management, energy-efficient building envelopes, and materials that resist salt air and humidity in coastal regions. ABC Carolinas represents merit shop commercial contractors, suppliers, and professionals across both states, acting as a trusted partner to clients and building trust through collaboration, ensuring open competition, safety, integrity, and your ability to manage your own workforce.
Delaware Senate Bill 272 became a cautionary case study in 2026. Delaware ABC president Jennifer Cohan’s April 23 op-ed warned that lawmakers “stopped listening” to merit shop contractors before the vote, fast-tracking union-favored provisions despite clear warnings about cost escalation, reduced bidder pools, and workforce displacement.
The SB 272 playbook included committee hearings stacked with union testimony, late amendments introduced before markup, and floor votes held before the business community could mobilize. Similar tactics appear in Raleigh and Columbia: short hearing notices, complex amendments dropped before markup, and stakeholder meetings held with some parties but not others.
The lesson is clear—when contractors wait until a bill hits the floor, it’s already too late. Carolinas executives must engage in committee, in caucus rooms, and at the PAC level while text remains fluid. Collaboration with ABC Carolinas provides the support needed to protect your rights before the wrong provisions become law.
The NC General Assembly is considering multiple bills affecting labor rules, licensing, procurement, and workforce programs. The North Carolina Residential Code Council has been established to exercise rulemaking authority for residential buildings, effective January 1, 2026, while the effective date of the new 2024 NC State Building Code has been postponed until at least March 2027, meaning the 2018 codes remain in place for many projects.
Labor and Employment:
Licensing:
Procurement:
Workforce:
The construction market is experiencing high demand for specialized trades due to the complexity of MEP systems, particularly in data centers. Modular and prefabricated construction is gaining significant traction to reduce on-site labor and speed up timelines.
South Carolina’s 2025–26 session features several construction bills in House Labor, Commerce, and Industry, and Senate committees. The April 22, 2026, “ABC Carolinas Hard Hat Day” at the State House highlighted the company’s role as the merit shop voice in Columbia.
Labor and Wage:
Licensing:
Procurement:
Workforce:
Filing a lien on a project secures payment for contractors and suppliers, and understanding the different lien laws in North Carolina and South Carolina is crucial to protecting these rights. Contracts and warranties are essential for protecting the rights of individuals and businesses, and construction defects can lead to legal claims that require expert investigation. Investing time in thoroughly understanding contracts, warranties, and legal protections is vital to safeguarding clients’ rights throughout the Carolinas construction process.
The SB 272 fight exposed tactics that merit shop contractors will recognize: stacking hearings with union witnesses, introducing last-minute amendments, framing bills as “worker protections,” and painting opposition as anti-safe or anti-worker.
Similar dynamics emerge in Raleigh and Columbia. Short hearing notices limit contractor testimony. Complex amendments drop before markup. Some stakeholder meetings exclude merit shop voices entirely. The point is not that contractors are powerless—it’s that you must engage early, show up consistently, and use ABC Carolinas’ coordinated advocacy tools. Otherwise, policy gets written without your input.
ABC Carolinas operates professional lobbyists in both capitals, volunteer legislative committees of member executives, legal advisors, and grassroots alert systems. We coordinate with ABC National and the Free Enterprise Alliance to share intelligence on bills like Delaware SB 272, align messaging, and benchmark Carolinas’ climate against other states.
Our bill-tracking tools include weekly updates, issue-specific alerts for bill numbers such as HB 782 and H.4921, and member-only dashboards. ABC Carolinas’ advocacy and staffing services are designed to meet clients’ evolving needs, ensuring they receive the highest-quality support and representation. ABC Carolinas advocacy is built on member engagement: letters, testimony, jobsite tours for legislators, and PAC-supported political action.
Construction staffing solutions often provide skilled tradespeople who can be deployed quickly to meet project demands, ensuring construction schedules are maintained. Many staffing agencies specialize in same-day and next-day labor staffing, and effective staffing includes compliance management covering E-Verify, payroll, and insurance requirements. Our commitment to delivering high-quality services ensures clients benefit from reliable staffing and advocacy tailored to their specific needs.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Subscribe to ABC Carolinas’ legislative alerts—ensure at least one senior executive receives every update |
| 2 | Identify bills touching your work (HB 782, H.4921, HB 645, H.5017, HB 703, H.5059, SB 529, S.774) and assign an internal point person |
| 3 | Contact committee members via ABC Carolinas’ tools with personalized letters including project examples and job numbers |
| 4 | Attend advocacy days in Raleigh and Columbia; invite lawmakers to tour active jobsites |
| 5 | Submit testimony on high-impact bills ensuring merit shop voices appear in the official record |
| Supporting the ABC Carolinas PACs is essential. Member contributions are pooled, candidate questionnaires reviewed, and decisions made by boards of member leaders. Contact the government affairs team to understand contribution limits and how your involvement helps elect champions on key committees. Visit our website or call ABC Carolinas today. |
The Carolinas can remain top construction markets if merit shop principles hold. Build relationships with legislators, share cost and workforce data with ABC Carolinas, and integrate legislative monitoring into your strategic planning. Whether you’re an LLC Carolinas construction solutions firm or CCS construction staffing operation, your engagement matters. Carolinas construction solutions depend on the work we do together—from Charlotte to Charleston—to complete projects safely and profitably, with the vision that defines this region’s success.
The gavel doesn’t wait. Neither should you.
Review ABC Carolinas’ categorized bill summaries grouped by topic—labor, licensing, procurement, workforce—and schedule a call with our government affairs team to get a prioritized list based on your company profile, project types, and public versus private work mix. Assign an internal “policy captain” to track these bills.
Your input still matters. Well-crafted emails, phone calls, and letters coordinated through ABC Carolinas’ action center are frequently cited by legislators. Participate in virtual briefings and invite legislators to district offices or nearby job sites during recess weeks, when travel is less necessary.
We evaluate bills against core merit shop principles: open competition, fair procurement, practical safety, and workforce rules. Decisions are informed by member-driven government affairs committees that review language, hear member input, and vote on association positions. Sometimes we take a “seek amendments” position when language is still evolving.
PAC contributions help elect lawmakers who defend free-enterprise construction, resist PLA and prevailing-wage mandates, and champion reforms that work for merit-shop firms. A stronger PAC presence improves access to decision-makers and helps prevent sudden, SB 272-style surprises.
Share success stories, graduation data, and wage outcomes from your ABC-affiliated programs with ABC Carolinas so those results can be highlighted in testimony. Host joint events where legislators meet apprentices and see hands-on instruction—demonstrating that merit shop programs produce safe, skilled employees without needing union control.
