Oregon passed its prevailing wage rate (PWR) law, sometimes referred to as the "Little Davis-Bacon Act," in 1959. As the nickname implies, the Act is modeled after the federal "Davis-Bacon" prevailing wage laws. Today, Oregon continues to update and refine its PWR law to reflect changes in the industry and to make it more like its federal counterpart.

Oregon's lawmakers designed PWR law, ORS 279C.800 et seq., to ensure that contractors compete on their ability to perform work competently and efficiently while maintaining community established compensation standards, to encourage the training and education of workers in industry skill standards and to encourage employers to use the funds required by the PWR law for fringe benefits for the actual purchase of such benefits. ORS 279C.805

The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) is responsible for administering and enforcing the PWR law and for educating contractors, subcontractors, and public agencies about its requirements.