News for Legislation
Bill Requiring Prompt Payment of Undisputed Claims Passed by Legislature
The Legislature has passed and the Governor is expected to sign an AGC-supported bill requiring the prompt payment of undisputed claims on public construction projects.
HB 1195 is a bill that was requested by the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) after the matter was originally brou...
Posted on: 04/15/2009
Action Alert: Help Defeat Higher Unemployment Taxes
AGC asks members to continue to urge Legislators to oppose SSB 5963 which would increase unemployment insurance taxes. The original version of the bill would have lowered UI taxes and AGC supported it. However the House amended the bill to increase UI benefits (in addition to the increase added...
Posted on: 04/15/2009
Momentum Seems to Shift Away from \Card Check\ Bill
AGC of America reports that recently there have been a few twists in the card check debate. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) announced her opposition to the Card Check bill and said she would vote against even considering the bill in the Senate. This coupled with Sen. Arlen Specters (R-PA) announcem...
Posted on: 04/15/2009
Tax Legislation Update: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The implications of recent tax legislation on the construction industry are significant.Several provisions create growth and help the industry flourish while others have a negative impact. During a free May 5 webinar Carleen J. Snyder CPA and Tax Partner for Moss Adams LLP will explore what you a...
Posted on: 04/15/2009
AGC Blasts Legislative About-Face on Unemployment Insurance Taxes
Last week the House Commerce and Labor Committee reneged on a bill to reform unemployment insurance taxes and instead passed out a bill that will raise taxes on business. This is an about-face as the Senate recently passed a bill that would lower taxes for most employers. The Committee took that...
Posted on: 03/31/2009
Viaduct Replacement: Contracts and Legislation
(Editors Note: WSDOT is hosting a voluntary contracting event to discuss upcoming work for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement Program. Thursday April 2 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Wells Fargo Building 999 Third Ave. Seattle 23rd floor training rooms. Click here for more info.)
While le...
Posted on: 03/31/2009
Retro Bill Fails Constitutional Tests According to Legal Analysis
The Retro Bill being opposed by AGC in Olympia has some serious constitutional problems according to a legal analysis.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP at the request of AGC and its business coalition partners reviewed legislation ESSB 6035 and constitutional issues raised by it.
A primary motivation ...
Posted on: 03/31/2009
Senate Passes Bill to Expand Apprenticeship Quotas to Higher Ed
The State Senate passed legislation opposed by AGC which extends apprenticeship quota requirements to higher education projects and adds violations of apprentice regulations as elements in both determining bidder responsibility as well as a possible Prevailing Wage strike for bidding eligibility ...
Posted on: 03/17/2009
House, Senate Pass Opposite Alternative Bidding Bills
A legislative showdown is brewing as the House and Senate passed seemingly opposite bills. The Senate passed SSB 5760 allowing UW and WSU to create any alternative contracting procedure they choose if project funding is not state appropriated. The House passed HB 1690 to limit the universities ...
Posted on: 03/17/2009
Senate Passes Retro Bill - AGC Asks Members to Attend House Hearing
Just ahead of a legislative deadline the Senate passed by one vote an AGC-opposed bill impacting Retro plans keeping the measure alive and sending it to the House. The Senate passed an amended version of SB 6035 (see original Retro article here) but the bill continues to restrict refund flexibili...
Posted on: 03/17/2009
What Legislation is AGC Tracking in Olympia?
AGC Legislative Update(as of March 17 2009)
Business Regulations
Retro: Oppose Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6035Status: Passed the Senate (yeas 25; nays 24; absent 0; excused 0)Hearing Scheduled: House Commerce & Labor Committee on Tuesday March 24 at 10:00Action Alert: Click here for A...
Posted on: 03/17/2009
AGC Health Plan Continues to Thrive After Defeat of Bill
House Bill 1714 introduced by Rep. Eileen Cody would have essentially eliminated association health plans. AGC joined with several other associations and fought this legislation which died in the House of Representatives.
The defeat of this bill is a big win for the AGC Health Plan and the cont...
Posted on: 03/13/2009
What Legislation is AGC Tracking in Olympia?
2009 Legislative Update
Business Regulations
Retro: Oppose Senate Bill 6035AGCs Legislative Action Alert: Yes Status: Senate Rules Committee
The Senate is considering legislation what would impact your Retro program. Tell your state Senator that you dont need their protection from your R...
Posted on: 03/10/2009
Unemployment Insurance Bill Protects Tax Credit, Cuts Taxes
AGC is helping to lead a broad based business coalition to support legislation to improve the unemployment insurance system.
SB 5963 addresses the fact that the state system does not currently conform to federal rules. Plus the measure right sizes the unemployment insurance fund by slightly red...
Posted on: 03/03/2009
Apprentice Bill Improved but Still Problematic
Legislation regarding apprentices has been improved but is still being opposed by AGC.
The original Bill SB 5873 would have required that apprentices be used for at least 15 percent of the labor hours of each trade or craft on public works projects with apprentice utilization requirements instea...
Posted on: 03/03/2009
Bills Dramatically Expand Universities' Use of Alternative Procurement
AGC opposes legislation that would give the University of Washington and Washington State University the authority to craft their own alternative bidding processes. AGC supports an alternative bill that affirms that changes to the alternative bidding statures must first be considered by the Capi...
Posted on: 03/03/2009
False Claims Legislation Could Put Contractors in Catch-22
Senate Bill 5144 known as the False Claims Act is vigourlusly opposed by AGC. The legislation says that a person who knowingly presents or assists in the presentation of a false or fraudulent claim that results in losses to a state or local government entity of at least $1000 is liable for a civ...
Posted on: 03/03/2009
Transit Oriented Development Bill Significantly Alters GMA
House Bill 1490 is an environmental bill that has become well known for its emphasis on fostering transit oriented development. AGC opposes the measure because of the prescriptive burdens and costs that will be placed on businesses families and local governments and corresponding land use litiga...
Posted on: 03/03/2009
Stimulus Package Seminars - All You Ever Wanted To Know!
The much-anticipated stimulus plan is here-so what does this mean for Washington contractors? A special presentation by Stanislaw Ashbaugh and AGC of Washington is in the works.
With the Presidents signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 the federal government has made $48 ...
Posted on: 02/24/2009
Covered Loads Bill to Be Heard in Senate Committee
Tomorrow (Wed Feb. 25) the Senate Transportation Committee is expected to hold a hearing on recently-introduced legislation regarding covered loads and AGC seeks the input of members.
The elements of the bill (SB 5846) are:
• Retains the 6 freeboard exemption until January 1 2014. After that d...
Posted on: 02/24/2009
Record Attendance at AGC Lobby Day
James Hawley (Matia Contractors Inc.) Frank Imhof (IMCO Construction) Rep. Doug Ericksen Sharon and Steve Isenhart (Tiger Construction).Sen. Curtis King of AGC member firm King Brothers Woodworking briefs Lobby Day participants.Kurt Trester (Absher Construction) Brad Kilcup and Garrick Hughes (GL...
Posted on: 02/24/2009
The Stimulus: What it Means to the Construction Industry
Congress passed the stimulus bill. AGC worked to ensure significant infrastructure investment was included and ultimately secured $140 billion in construction spending. For details on how the money will be distributed and specific policy provisions click Rebuild Americas Future on AGC of Americas...
Posted on: 02/19/2009
Apprentice Quota Bill Requires 15 Percent of Hours for Each Trade or Craft
Bill SB 5873 requires among other things that apprentices must be used for at least 15 percent of the labor hours of each trade or craft on public works projects with apprentice utilization requirements instead of 15 percent of the total labor hours. Plus contracts awarded by state four-year inst...
Posted on: 02/18/2009
Hearing Held on Retro Legislation - Contact Your State Senators
This week a hearing was held on legislation that would negatively impact the AGC Retro and other workers compensation retrospective rating programs.
AGC members are strongly encouraged to contact their State Senators about this bill via the Grassroots Action Center on AGCs website. Click AGC Gr...
Posted on: 02/18/2009
AGC Mounts Effort to Discourage Cosponsors of 'Card Check'
AGC of America reports that supporters of the (so-called) Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) are making a push to introduce this legislation in the House very soon and are continuing to push for original co-sponsors of the bill.
AGC opposes the Employee Free Choice Act and urges AGC members to disc...