Committee advances contractor-liability bill after debate over fairness, double damages

The committee advanced HB 5275, a bill that would make contractors jointly and severally liable for unpaid wages on construction contracts, after extended debate about fairness and practical consequences for contractors.

Senator Sampson and Representative Canino argued the legislation would shift liability to contractors who had acted properly and would raise compliance costs across the construction sector. "People should be held accountable for their own actions," Senator Sampson said, adding he feared the provision would force properly performing contractors to bear costs caused by rogue subcontractors.

Representative Canino warned that the joint-liability language could expose general contractors to double damages under the amended statutory framework. "So whatever we assumed... the cost of this bill would be for the contractor, we'll double that," Canino said, citing the bill's civil remedies provisions.

Supporters, including the chair, said the change is intended to protect workers and to give employees and labor organizations additional avenues to seek redress when subcontractors fail to pay wages. The chair noted exemptions in lines 12–14 for certain home-improvement and owner-occupied work and said the bill clarifies that employees or labor organizations may bring civil actions against the contractor as well as the subcontractor.

The committee moved the bill for floor consideration and conducted a roll-call vote. Members recorded votes and the chair said votes would remain open until 3:30 PM.