AGCVA Quarterly Legislative Update:

November 2022

As the leaves change color and temperatures begin to drop, AGCVA continues to work on your behalf in Richmond to promote and protect Virginia’s commercial construction industry. It has been a busy fall filled with regulatory workgroups, legislative meetings, and ongoing engagement with the Youngkin Administration among various other activities.



Here is what you can expect to read about in this update:

• Pay-if-Paid Progress
• Board for Contractors Regulatory Review
• Promoting Workforce Development
• AGCVA Legislative & PAC Events
• 2023: The Road Ahead

Pay-if-Paid Progress

AGCVA’s major advocacy focus this year has been to find a resolution to the pay-if-paid issue that protects both general contractors and specialty contractors. While legislation passed the General Assembly that prohibits pay-if-paid clauses from construction contracts, AGCVA has engaged with stakeholders over the summer and fall as a part of the DGS workgroup tasked with evaluating the legislation.

After several meetings, the DGS workgroup finalized and approved recommendations to the legislation that incorporates several of AGCVA’s own suggestions for improvement. Moving forward, the recommendations will need to be introduced as legislation in the 2023 legislative session in January to take effect. Senator Bell, who carried the original pay-if-paid legislation, will likely carry the clean-up legislation.

In addition to AGCVA’s input to the DGS workgroup, AGCVA convened its own internal pay-if-paid group to discuss strategies and action items to further protect Virginia’s contractor community. One recommendation included amending Virginia’s mechanic’s lien statute to make it a more friendly recourse for payment for contractors.

Later this fall, AGCVA’s Legislative Committee will meet to finalize a gameplan for the 2023 legislative session. 

Board for Contractors Regulatory Review

In September, the Virginia Board for Contractors convened a workgroup to conduct a line-by-line review of its regulations. AGCVA has had a representative attend each meeting of the workgroup.

At the first meeting, the Board accepted public comment on proposed changes to the Individual License and Certification Regulations, which included reducing the required experience for journey-level contractors from four years to two years and eliminating the continuing education requirement. AGCVA, as a participant sitting on the regulatory review workgroup, emphasized its goal to bring more skilled individuals into the workforce but shared concerns with other stakeholders related to diluting the training requirement for journey-level contractors. All of those who provided public comment were opposed to the regulatory changes.

The regulatory changes are currently conceptual in nature and must undergo a lengthy vetting process, which could take up to eighteen months to complete.

The Board for Contractors dedicated the rest of its time to a line-by-line review of its regulations. The Board has held two meetings so far and is expected to hold a third meeting in early December.

Promoting Workforce Development: Build Your Future Virginia

Given the high demand for construction industry related work, it is no surprise that workforce development is one of the top priorities for AGCVA members. Build Your Future Virginia (BYF-VA), which began as a partnership between AGCVA and ABC, has embraced the challenge to respond to the workforce development issue by educating and promoting career pathways in the construction industry. BYF-VA works to educate students, counselors, parents, and the public through outreach and direction toward training programs and potential employment opportunities.

Last month, AGCVA and ABC met with Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater to advocate for state funding for BYF-VA to further meet the demands of Virginia’s employers and expand its Careers in Construction campaign. AGCVA looks forward to continuing discussions with the Youngkin Administration and will advocate for additional financial resources in the upcoming legislative session.

To learn more about Build Your Future Virginia, click here.

AGCVA Legislative & PAC Events Across Virginia

The fall has been busy with several legislative events and another successful outing of the AGCVA PAC Golf Classic.

Last month, golfers teed off for the 31st annual AGCVA PAC Golf Classic under chilly but dry conditions at the Country Club of Virginia. 100 percent of the net proceeds from the sold-out tournament are used to support the AGCVA PAC. 

The AGCVA PAC is a critical component to AGCVA’s advocacy efforts and ensures the voice of Virginia’s commercial construction industry remains powerful in Richmond. The AGCVA PAC will be especially important in 2023 when all 140 seats in the General Assembly will be up for reelection with newly drawn districts. More financial resources to the PAC will enable AGCVA to play an active role during next year’s highly competitive races.

You determine the success of the AGCVA PAC. Donations can be personal or from your company.

Richmond, Piedmont, Roanoke, and Tidewater have each recently held a legislative event where members and legislators have come together to share perspectives, industry expertise, and display the importance of AGCVA member companies. These events are critical because they showcase all three of AGCVA’s strategic pillars – advocate, grow, and connect. Your engagement with legislators reinforces AGCVA as a strong and unifying voice of the commercial construction industry in Virginia.

Richmond District Legislative Breakfast - September 15

Piedmont District Pig & Oyster Roast, hosted by the Young Leaders - October 27

Roanoke District Annual Lunch with the Legislators - October 18

Tidewater District Oyster Roast at Ballyhoos - November 3

Another way to stay connected with your local legislators is to sign up for AGCVA action alerts. These alerts will keep you updated on legislative or regulatory action that may impact your business and streamlines the process to share your position with elected officials. 

2023: The Road Ahead



As the 2023 legislative session quickly approaches, legislators are beginning to request drafts of legislation. AGCVA is monitoring incoming legislation and looks forward to advocating for legislative solutions that protect both general contractors and specialty contractors. Moreover, AGCVA will push forward for state funding to supplement workforce development initiatives. 

If you have any questions or would like to know how you can further harness your membership to support AGCVA’s advocacy efforts, feel free to write Brandon Robinson at [email protected] or call him at (804) 364-5504 x205.

AGCVA

Kyler Hedrick, Policy Manager

Email Kyler | 804-364-5504 x233