News for Government
Changes to paid sick leave for unionized construction workers
Very little reporting has focused on a new law, signed by Governor Inslee on April 30, 2019, that significantly changes the Paid Sick Leave Law (RCW 49.46.210) for construction workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Posted on: 08/21/2019
Max Kuney calls for highway trust-fund fix
Senate hearing begins FAST Act reauthorization effort
Posted on: 07/12/2019
U.S. House panel approves multiemployer pension reforms
AGC of America reports that last week the House Committee on Education and Labor approved the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act (more commonly known as the Butch Lewis Act) which provides low-interest loans to troubled plans to allow them to pay benefits.
Posted on: 06/18/2019
Recap of $1B+ in new taxes passed by the Legislature
During this year’s legislative session, the Washington State Legislature passed several tax bills that will increase total revenues by $1.1 billion.
Posted on: 06/18/2019
L&I announces new draft overtime rule with salary threshold of $80K
L&I formally announced a new draft overtime rule that would raise the threshold for overtime-exempt employees to nearly $80,000 by 2026. If the rule is adopted, employers will need to pay salaried employees at least that amount or convert them to hourly workers, in essence creating a new super minimum wage.
Posted on: 06/18/2019
Proposed state budgets feature capital gains, B&O and REET taxes
Democratic leaders in the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives have proposed differing biennial budgets for 2019-2021, but they do have two things in common: They are both way bigger than the previous state budget, and they both feature tax increases.
Posted on: 04/09/2019
State House passes $10 billion transportation biennial budget
The State House of Representatives has passed its version of the 2019-21 biennial transportation budget, with total funding of $10 billion, up about $600 million from the previous budget. The Senate version is similar and awaits action on the Senate floor.
Posted on: 04/08/2019
House passes $4.6-billion capital budget giving boost to K-12, higher ed construction
The state construction budget, and accompanying bond bill, passed the House of Representatives last week. The $4.6 billion capital budget, prime sponsored by House Capital Budget Committee Chair Steve Tharinger (D-Port Townsend) invests heavily in public schools and colleges, mental health and environmental projects.
Posted on: 04/08/2019
Paid Family and Medical Leave Ombuds office available to help
The Office of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Ombuds recently launched its new website with information about services and resources for workers and employers who need help resolving issues with the Employment Security Department and the Paid Family and Medical Leave program.
Posted on: 04/04/2019
Governor proposes 9-percent capital-gains tax
Governor Jay Inslee has proposed a new capital-gains tax to help fund his proposed 2019–21 operating budget that would increase spending by $9.973 billion (22.3 percent).
Posted on: 01/14/2019
Congress could head to a partial government shutdown
What contractors should do in the event of a shutdown
Posted on: 12/20/2018
AGC opposes PSCAA fuel proposal
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is considering a regional low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS), and AGC is opposed. AGC is joining a coalition of business, agriculture and labor groups in requesting that PSCAA drop its proposal.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
AGC of America opposes tariffs, offers recommendations for contractors
On March 8, President Trump signed proclamations to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports, with limited exceptions.
Posted on: 03/13/2018
House Transportation Chair Judy Clibborn among high-profile retirements
Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-41), long-time chair of the House Transportation Committee and a key architect of the $16 billion transportation package passed in 2015, announced her retirement from the Washington State Legislature.
Posted on: 03/12/2018
Legislative session recap: Billions in construction spending; no new taxes
The 2018 Legislative session ended right on time last week – the first time since 2014 that a special session wasn’t required.
Posted on: 03/12/2018
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
"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
AGC’s BUILD PAC endorses Jinyoung Lee Englund for key State Senate spot
In one of the most consequential state legislative races in decades, AGC’s BUILD PAC has endorsed Jinyoung Lee Englund for the 45th District State Senate seat.
Posted on: 05/08/2017
AGC’s career awareness legislation signed into law
In a victory for AGC, career awareness legislation spearheaded by the association was signed into law by Gov. Inslee last week.
Posted on: 05/08/2017
Jaci Hayden testifies against Senate tax increase bill
Government Affairs Committee member Jaci Hayden testified on behalf of AGC before the Senate Ways and Means Committee April 26. Hayden expressed AGC’s opposition to SB 5929, a comprehensive tax increase bill, especially the bill’s proposed 20-percent B&O tax increase.
Posted on: 05/08/2017
State Senate, House release competing budget proposals
The Washington Senate's Republican-led Majority Coalition Caucus (MCC) unveiled its "Protecting Washington's Future" budget – a $43 billion spending plan – last week and quickly passed it by a 25-24 vote.
Posted on: 03/28/2017
Blacklisting regulation repeal signed into law
AGC of America and its members achieved a major legislative victory yesterday when President Trump signed legislation to repeal of the Blacklisting regulations, which would have implemented President Obama’s “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” Executive Order.
Posted on: 03/28/2017
Expect much stiffer fines for certain safety violations next year
A new proposal by the OSHA would increase fines for safety violation fines by 82 percent. Washington State, which manages its own OSHA-approved state plan, will be required to follow suit in 2017.