News
B&O, capital gains tax bills back on the table in Olympia
Two new bills involving capital gains and B&O taxes were introduced relatively late in the legislative session. Both are opposed by AGC.
Posted on 02/12/2018
Capital Budget and “Hirst fix” pass Legislature
AGC applauds passage of the long-delayed 2017-2019 State Capital Budget as well as passage of the water-rights “Hirst fix.”
Posted on 01/30/2018
AGC’s BUILD PAC honors top PAC supporters
Osborne Construction Company was honored at AGC of Washington's 2018 Annual Convention Luncheon with the Leader of the PAC award for being the 2017 top contributor to the AGC’s BUILD PAC.
Posted on 01/30/2018
AGC honors Senator Lynda Wilson as Legislator of the Year
AGC presented its 2017 Legislator of the Year Award to Senator Lynda Wilson during its January 26 Annual Convention.
Posted on 01/29/2018
"Government Shutdown 101" for federal contractors: How to survive it
In 2013, after partisan squabbles around the Affordable Care Act, Congress failed to enact a spending bill, throwing the federal government into shutdown mode. As a result...
Posted on 01/22/2018
Legislature passes $4B construction budget, water-rights bill
State lawmakers late Thursday approved a $4.3 billion construction budget and legislation to address a rural water-rights debate that had stalled the spending plan since the spring of 2017.
Posted on 01/19/2018
Numerous union labor contracts expire on May 31, 2018.
AGC's Labor Committee is hosting meetings in February in all four districts of the Chapter.
Posted on 01/16/2018
MidMountain, Scarsella, KLB, KRCI, West win WSDOT/AGC awards
WSDOT and AGC announced the 2017 Partnership for Excellence in Contract Administration Award winners during the AGC/WSDOT 2018 annual meeting.
Posted on 01/16/2018
New in 2018: Pay-per-mile pilot study
After several years of study, the Washington State Transportation Commission will test a pay-per-mile tax system called a road usage charge beginning in early 2018. A road usage charge asks drivers to pay for the miles they drive in Washington, rather than by the gallons of gas they use.
Posted on 12/14/2017
AGC of America: Tax-reform plan improved but more help for pass-through entities needed
The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued this statement in connection with the Senate tax-reform measure.
Posted on 12/04/2017
Cost of workers’ comp insurance dropping for many in Washington next year
The price of workers’-compensation insurance will go down for many businesses in Washington next year.
Posted on 12/04/2017
AGC forms Acceptable Worksites taskforce
To support the City of Seattle's Priority Hire program and its community workforce goals, Acceptable Worksites contract provisions were included in city-issued contracts to improve apprenticeship graduation rates among women and people of color and ensure appropriate behavior on all city project sites.
Posted on 11/21/2017
L&I planning wage surveys for several trades including truck drivers, site surveyors
The Department of Labor and Industries is planning wage and hour surveys to establish prevailing-wage rates for several trades. The surveys will be carried out over the next 12 months and will be used to establish prevailing-wage rates in all 39 counties.
Posted on 11/01/2017
WSDOT proposes 19% DBE goal on FHA-funded projects
WSDOT is proposing a 19 percent overall DBE participation goal on Federal Highway Administration-funded projects for federal fiscal years 2018 through 2020. WSDOT will submit the proposal to FHWA early next year following a public comment period.
Posted on 11/01/2017
Final sick-leave rule is out: What you need to know
AGC is sponsoring a presentation and webinar by Darren Feider of Sebris Busto to answer all your questions about the new paid sick leave law that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2018.
Posted on 10/23/2017
Update on Port of Seattle’s PLA-enforced priority-hire proposal
Citing problems already apparent in the priority hire ordinances passed by the City of Seattle, Sound Transit and under consideration by King County, AGC raised significant concerns about the Port of Seattle’s proposal.
Posted on 10/23/2017
AGC of Washington honors Sen. Guy Palumbo
Senator Guy Palumbo (D-1) was honored as a “Champion of Construction” by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington on October 12. AGC recognized Palumbo for his work to sponsor and secure passage of legislation to promote workforce training and apprenticeship programs.
Posted on 10/17/2017
L&I cuts retainage release time in half
At the urging of AGC, key legislators pressured L&I to reduce the amount of time the department had been taking to complete its share of the retainage release process.
Posted on 10/10/2017
New disparity study leads to WSDOT’s request to rescind white-women waiver
Based on the results of its recently completed disparity study, WSDOT has asked the Federal Highway Administration to rescind the waiver WSDOT received in 2016 to exclude white woman-owned firms from the race and gender-conscious component of the DBE program.
Posted on 09/26/2017
L&I proposes 2.5% decrease in workers’ comp rates; AGC seeks reforms
The average amount employers pay for workers' compensation insurance in Washington would drop 2.5 percent in 2018 under a proposal from L&I.
Posted on 09/26/2017
Harvey's aftermath will rattle construction supply chain, economists say
Hurricane Harvey’s immediate impact on the construction sector will be a disruption in the supply chain for key materials, along with scheduling problems for projects that were under construction.
Posted on 09/08/2017
No action on capital budget, Hirst fix
Key legislators were recently in Olympia attempting to negotiate an agreement on legislation addressing the Hirst water-rights court decision.
Posted on 08/29/2017
Attorney General’s Office seeks US Supreme Court review in culverts case
The Attorney General’s Office recently filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the “culverts case.”
Posted on 08/28/2017
President Trump’s Executive Order seeks to expedite infrastructure projects
AGC of America reports that President Trump recently issued an Executive Order...
Posted on 08/28/2017
How to handle an environmental inspection
The initial and most critical phase of an environmental enforcement action is the agency inspection of the event or facility.