Garret Murai | California Construction Law Blog My father used to make me wash the family cars every weekend . . . rain or shine. The nice thing about washing a car in the rain is that you don’t need to dry it. Once, while sudsing up one of the family cars in the rain… Continue reading It’s That Time of Year: Contract Review Time
Tag: california
Effective January 1, 2026 California SB 61 Caps Retention at 5% on Private Construction Projects
Kendall Woods | Buchalter California passed Senate Bill 61 (SB 61), a new law intended to help ease financial risk for contractors and subcontractors on private construction projects. With the passage of SB 61, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 14, 2025, retention practices for private construction projects will undergo a significant… Continue reading Effective January 1, 2026 California SB 61 Caps Retention at 5% on Private Construction Projects
California Overhauls Private Sector Construction Payment Practices
Richard McDonald, Cory Mickels and Jay Ross | Lathrop GPM Two new California statutes taking effect January 1, 2026, will significantly change the way private construction projects are contracted, administered and paid: Both laws require immediate updates to standard contract forms, internal workflows and project management practices. SB 61: The New 5% Retention Cap SB… Continue reading California Overhauls Private Sector Construction Payment Practices
California’s New Rules for Private Construction Contracts Take Effect Jan. 1, 2026
Sydne Levy, Joshua Rabinowitz and Michael Zehner | Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, new amendments to the California Civil Code will significantly affect most private construction projects (excluding certain smaller residential projects under four stories). Two statutes—Civil Code sections 8811 and 8850—impose non-waivable requirements and render noncompliant contract provisions unenforceable. Owners, contractors… Continue reading California’s New Rules for Private Construction Contracts Take Effect Jan. 1, 2026
Those Involved in Private Construction Agreements in California Must Act Now to Prepare for New Claim Resolution Requirements
Laurence Phillips | Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch The clock is ticking for anyone involved in negotiating or administering private construction agreements in California. Beginning January 1, 2026, the Private Works Change Order Fair Payment Act (SB 440) will reshape how change orders and claims arising from them are handled on private construction projects. Private… Continue reading Those Involved in Private Construction Agreements in California Must Act Now to Prepare for New Claim Resolution Requirements