News for Legislation
AGC shows support for CTE funding
AGC member Bob Adams, of Guy F. Atkinson Construction, testified recently before the Senate Early Learning K-12 Education Committee in support of funding for CTE (career and technical education) programs in middle and high schools.
Posted on: 01/31/2017
AGC to Legislature: Restore infrastructure projects cut in Governor’s budget
As the State Legislature convenes with the issue of education funding as legislators’ top concern, AGC recently reminded policymakers that infrastructure investments should not be ignored.
Posted on: 01/17/2017
Paid sick leave: What contractors need to know
In November, when voters passed Initiative 1433, commonly known as the minimum wage initiative, they were also approving a provision in I-1433 that requires employers to provide paid sick leave.
Posted on: 01/04/2017
Minimum-wage increases took effect Jan. 1
Washington minimum wage employees received a 16 percent raise on the first of the year -- with a few exceptions.
Posted on: 01/04/2017
Governor’s budget increases taxes, spending by $8 billion
Gov. Jay Inslee recently unveiled his budget proposal. The headlines were that Inslee proposed raising taxes by $4.4 billion, and while that's substantial, it only reflects part of the taxes.
Posted on: 01/04/2017
Defense bill includes changes to DOD procurement
AGC of America reports that last week the House of Representatives overwhelmingly (373-34) passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (NDAA).
Posted on: 12/12/2016
After AGC protests, DOE pulls back for now on soil handling rules
DOE will issue a second draft of proposed solid-waste rules that could cause a contractor to unwittingly become subject to solid-waste landfill rules, or require satisfaction of onerous landfill post-closure care or financial assurance requirements.
Posted on: 11/29/2016
Win for the industry: AGC and allies secure changes to DOE’s construction stormwater permit
AGC and its partner organizations settled its appeal of the new Construction Stormwater General Permit with the Department of Ecology.
Posted on: 11/29/2016
Significant New Obama Regulations, Including Overtime, Are Blocked
After waking up to the news of a Trump victory, a number of clients have asked whether the long list of pending Obama regulatory labor and employment changes, which were assumed to be “safe” under the expected Clinton win, will be rescinded under a Trump administration.
Posted on: 11/29/2016
Drug testing rules, pension reform among issues AGCWA leaders discuss with Congress
AGC of Washington leadership traveled to Washington, DC last week to encourage Congress to overturn onerous new regulations and to pass important education and jobs bills.
Posted on: 10/03/2016
Learn how to deal with onerous “blacklisting” Executive Order
AGC of America is set to help members get a handle on, and comply with, the 850 pages of new burdensome and unnecessary regulations known as the Fair Pay and Save Workplaces Executive Order signed by President Obama.
Posted on: 09/02/2016
When do contractors pay sales tax on clean-up activities?
AGC continues to receive inquiries from contractors regarding the payment of sales taxes on final cleaning subcontracts.
Posted on: 08/22/2016
Statewide ballot measures qualify for the general election
The Secretary of State had announced that the follow ballot measures have qualified for the general election in November.
Posted on: 08/09/2016
Eyman’s new tack to cut transportation funding
Tim Eyman has filed a whopping 126 initiatives this year, many of which would gut transportation funding.
Posted on: 06/06/2016
Gov. Inslee announces new carbon-reduction plan
Gov. Jay Inslee recently announced his revised carbon reduction rule. Ash Grove Cement and Nucor Steel are among the businesses impacted by the rule.
Posted on: 06/06/2016
AGC’s Dave Kearby challenges for 15th District House seat
AGC’s own Dave Kearby is running for the State Legislature! Kearby announced his candidacy for State Representative from the 15th District last week.
Posted on: 05/23/2016
OSHA’s new silica rule imposes new regulations on many contractors
On March 25, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its final rule on occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (the “Silica Rule”).
Posted on: 05/23/2016
Initiatives could bring mandatory sick leave to construction
There may be two initiatives on the November ballot to raise the minimum wage; both of them go beyond the minimum wage and require paid sick leave.
Posted on: 05/10/2016
AGC supports Brightwater contractor in legal dispute with King County
AGC is supporting Brightwater tunnel contractors Vinci/Parsons RCI/Frontier Kemper JV (VPFK) in a legal dispute with King County. At issue is the long-standing principle that an “implied warranty” comes with an owner-issued plans and specifications, and how it allocates risk on Washington construction projects if following those plans and specifications does not produce the desired or intended result.
Posted on: 04/11/2016
Strengthening our legislative efforts
AGC of Washington has partnered with AGC of America to gauge the reach of our collective networks and enable us to effectively plan for future public-policy discussions.
Posted on: 04/04/2016
Legislative recap: A little more money for construction, no policy changes
Springtime in Olympia can mean only one thing: A special session in the Legislature!
Posted on: 03/15/2016
About $100 million more for highway maintenance and preservation
The State Legislature is currently developing a supplemental transportation budget and current drafts contain some good news.
Posted on: 02/29/2016
School and higher-ed construction get boost in state budgets
Increased overall emphasis on education in the Legislature, including new laws to reduce class size in grades K-3, is good news to contractors who build schools.
Posted on: 02/29/2016
Business, building trades unite to support regulatory reforms
A bill passed out of a Senate committee recently that will give employers, developers, investors and employees greater certainty about the processing of state project permits.
Posted on: 02/16/2016
New L&I rulings on lead, confined spaces, OSHA penalty values and more
Washington State's Department of Labor and Industries has just released important new rulings for the construction industry.