Florida legislators approved a bill that would limit the amount of retainage that can be withheld from contractor payments on state and local publicly funded projects.
With only one dissenter, the body voted to reduce retainage from 10% to 5%. The retainage rate is the amount withheld from payments until 50% of the project is complete.
The new regulation will not apply to projects valued at $200,000 or less; Florida DOT projects approved under Florida Statutes Ch. 337; and projects entered into, pending approval or advertised by a government entity on or before Oct. 1, 2020. Pending approval by the governor, the new law will go into effect Oct. 1, 2020.
According to Construction Dive, Illinois changed its laws last August to cap retainage at 10% on most private projects, with a reduction to 5% once a contractor completes 50% of its contract scope of work. This is similar to the Illinois retainage laws governing public projects.
Related Stories
| Jun 21, 2012
Brazilian engineering/construction firm Odebrecht sues Florida over ban on companies doing business in Cuba
Odebrecht Construction Inc., a Brazilian engineering and construction company, is suing the State of Florida over a new law that bans governments from hiring companies with business ties to Cuba.
| Jun 21, 2012
String of shattered glass balcony panels prompts call for code reform in Ontario
Since last summer, glass balconies have shattered at 13 different buildings in Toronto.
| Jun 21, 2012
California adds window film to building code
California is the first state to add window film into its building code. Window film, a polymer material, offers cost-effective energy savings.
| Jun 21, 2012
New ISO standard to improve environmental management of concrete
A new ISO standard will help the construction industry better manage the environmental impacts of concrete.
| Jun 21, 2012
On net-zero projects, Building Teams will be held accountable for energy-efficiency performance
The building team will be held accountable for how net-zero energy buildings perform two, five, and maybe ten years after completion.
| Jun 14, 2012
USGBC co-founder launches rating system for building product manufacturers
U.S. Green Building Council co-founder David Gottfried’s new venture, Regenerative Ventures, has established a rating system for building product manufacturers.
| Jun 14, 2012
Green standard set for single-ply roofing membrane
A sustainability standard has been established for single-ply roofing membranes used on commercial buildings.
| Jun 14, 2012
Minnesota Vikings stadium plan gets legislative go-ahead
Legislation that approved the construction of a new billion dollar stadium for the Minnesota Vikings passed the Minnesota legislature.
| Jun 14, 2012
Report alleges New York’s prevailing construction wages are miscalculated, costing billions
A miscalculation in how prevailing wages are calculated in New York reportedly costs the state $3 billion a year in public-infrastructure projects.
