Construction Law

Between June 2012 and June 2013, construction employment has increased in 191 out of 339 metropolitan areas across the United States, according to an analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The data also showed construction employment declined…

In response to the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act, the U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a new rule that will force agencies and prime contractors to pay more attention towards their small business subcontractors. Effective August 15, 2013, prime contractors in a “covered contract”…

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development both released new residential construction statistics for June 2013. According to the data, building permits of privately-owned housing units were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 911,000 for June 2013, down 7.5…

One of the big issues crossing my desk lately is the problem of ‘price and proceed’ change orders, unilateral change directives, and other directives to proceed with additional change order work.  The contract documents typically require the contractor to perform ‘additional work’ upon receiving notice,…

For the first time since 2008, the construction unemployment rate dropped below double digits in June, according to new government data analyzed by the Associated General Contractors of America. The data also showed that every segment of the construction industry experienced an increase in employment.…

Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (“DLLR”) has developed regulations that go into effect on July 1, 2013 with respect to a new requirement for contractors and subcontractors that perform work on some state-funded projects in the State of Maryland.  Under the new set…

According to an analysis of data by the Associated General Contractors of America, the construction employment level hit a three-year high last month, adding 48,000 jobs in February. However, officials of the association warned that employment gains could be undermined if the government fails to…

On January 31, 2013, Maryland Delegate Kirill Reznik of Montgomery County along with 19 other Delegates introduced House Bill 585 (“HB585”), which, if passed and signed by the Governor, would add Section 13-227 to the State Finance and Procurement Article and be known as the…

On January 16, 2013, Maryland State Senator Joan Carter Conway of Baltimore City introduced Senate Bill 140 (“SB140”), which seeks to lower the amount of retention that a public body can withhold from a contractor when the contractor has furnished a payment and performance bond…

According to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the construction sector added 30,000 jobs in the month of December 2012, which marks the largest monthly increase in nearly two years, and is reportedly due to growth in private sector demand. The…