Author: Crystal Yates
Do you work in-house for a construction firm as a general counsel, risk manager, or environmental professional? AGC of America has a meeting for you. Join your peers for a roundtable discussion on January 25 at the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida. These meetings are open only to lawyers, risk managers, and environmental professionals employed directly by construction companies. Outside counsel, insurance brokers and carriers, sureties and bond producers, consultants, vendors, and other service providers are not eligible to attend. Limiting attendance to in-house professionals keeps the conversations candid, peer-to-peer, and focused on contractor-specific content. Participants choose a dozen…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) guaranteed loan program, which funds construction, expansion, and renovation of meat, poultry, and seafood processing facilities. Congress created the program through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 with at least $5 billion in loan level; a 90% loan guarantee can reduce borrowing costs for facility developers and owners. Contractors that build food processing facilities should alert clients to the opportunity. Applications are accepted until funds are exhausted, with no geographic restrictions on eligible projects. Members can review the full notice of funding opportunity…
On November 3, voters across the U.S. will decide on dozens of transportation-related ballot measures covering highway construction, bridge improvements, public transit funding, and local road projects that could shape construction activity in communities across the country. In California, several measures would provide new or continued transportation funding. The Bay Area’s Connect Bay Area initiative proposes a 14-year sales tax to support regional transit systems, including BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain, and is projected to generate approximately $1 billion annually. Fresno County’s Measure S would establish a half-cent transportation sales tax for 30 years to fund road repairs, transit,…
Each year, representatives from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AGC of America (AGC), and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) come together to address challenges facing the transportation construction industry. Through the AASHTO-AGC-ARTBA Joint Committee, the three associations work collaboratively to develop practical policy recommendations that reflect the perspectives of construction contractors and state transportation agencies. AGC’s Board of Directors recently approved four policy papers developed through the Joint Committee’s 2026 policy process. This year’s papers focus on digital project delivery, railroad coordination, incentive/disincentive provisions in highway construction, and opportunities to accelerate project…
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has sued an employer for the second time alleging that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it rescinded job offers based on applicants’ use of certain medications. On Sept. 30, 2026, the EEOC filed suit alleging that Bollinger Shipyards discriminated against five qualified job applicants by withdrawing their job offers based on concerns over potential side effects of their prescription medication. Among other allegations, the EEOC claims the parent company’s HR director put in place a blanket ban on Suboxone use for “safety-sensitive” positions. Suboxone is used to treat opioid addiction…
AGC’s 2026 Construction Workforce & HR Conference wrapped up on October 23 in Phoenix after three days focused on one of construction’s biggest challenges: finding people, keeping them, and developing the next generation of industry leaders. The conference brought together construction workforce and HR professionals from across the country to share practical strategies and new approaches. Workforce development was a major focus throughout the conference. Attendees heard how communities are responding to rapidly growing workforce demands associated with data center construction. Contractors, educators, and workforce partners shared approaches for strengthening the construction talent pipeline, including industry partnerships with K-12 schools,…
AGC of America’s Collective Bargaining Training, held October 15–16, 2026, in Rosemont, IL, explored how preparation and communication help construction contractors navigate labor negotiations. A central takeaway: successful bargaining starts well before negotiations and continues after an agreement is reached. Nearly 150 contractors, AGC chapter staff, and other management representatives heard from experienced collective bargaining practitioners – including contractors, chapter staff, and lawyers – about best practices, current trends, lessons learned, and legal considerations. Sessions at the sold-out program emphasized reviewing agreements, notice requirements, member priorities and benefit obligations early, as well as clarifying who should negotiate and who is…
Major changes are underway for several long-standing national agreements used in construction labor relations. The National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee (NMAPC) on October 6, 2026, announced a comprehensive revision of the National Maintenance Agreement (NMA) as well as a consolidation of the NMA, National Construction Agreement (NCA) and General Presidents’ Project Maintenance Agreement (GPPMA) into one agreement. The revised, consolidated agreement will be called the National Construction and Maintenance Agreement (NCMA). It will apply to work commencing on or after January 1, 2027. The term “national agreements” refers to collective bargaining agreements negotiated by national contractor associations and national or international…
On October 19, AGC of America submitted comments on the latest batch of proposed rules in the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul, calling on the FAR Council to maintain clear and predictable rules for federal construction contractors. Many of the proposed rules would give contracting officers more discretion throughout the project lifecycle. Among the proposals are allowing contracting officers to accept late bids, the removal of mandatory site visit and preconstruction conference requirements, and a continued mandate to use project labor agreements on projects above $35 million. In its comments, AGC asked the Council to retain objective bid submission…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance implementing President Trump’s October 5 executive order temporarily suspending federal penalties for using red-dyed diesel on public highways through December 31, 2026. Typically reserved for off-road use — including construction equipment — red-dyed diesel is exempt from the federal highway diesel fuel excise tax; the relief covers sellers and users nationwide, retroactively from October 1, and waives inspection, enforcement, and record-keeping requirements during the relief period. The guidance does not eliminate the underlying federal excise tax obligation, and the agency has indicated additional guidance on payment deadlines and reporting requirements is forthcoming. Federal…