Top construction legal news of 2025

Construction Dive’s award-winning Dotted Line legal column looked at the major topics trending for contractors this year.

By Joe Bousquin • Dec. 22, 2025

House passes bill that could fast-track AI infrastructure projects

The SPEED Act aims to cut red tape in order to meet soaring energy demand and growing competition in the global AI race, according to the bill’s sponsors.

By Makenzie Holland • Dec. 22, 2025

As EPA moves to fast-track data centers, some cities are moving to slow them down

The EPA is streamlining Clean Air Act permitting to accelerate development. Will local communities pay the price?

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Dec. 18, 2025

White House ballroom fight shifts focus to contractor risk

As the cost on the controversial project rises to $400 million and a judge allows it to proceed, attorneys say contracts will determine the amount of peril builders face.

By Sebastian Obando • Dec. 17, 2025

Lawsuit seeks to stop White House ballroom construction

The Trump administration has done none of the statutorily required reviews, so work must stop until the legal requirements are met, the National Trust for Historic Preservation says.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 17, 2025

In latest real estate move, Trump appears to be readying demolition of 4 historic D.C. buildings

Critics say he’s deep into the contracting process, outside of statutory channels, to tear down “brutalist” buildings that define post-World War II-era architecture.

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 15, 2025

H-1B visa applicants will now have their social media scrutinized

The move is the latest measure from President Donald Trump’s administration to make the immigration process more stringent.

By Caroline Colvin • Dec. 8, 2025

NYC pegs $7B in work to new project labor agreements

City officials say the framework, which comes amid scrutiny of PLAs at the federal level, strengthens safety and overall construction workforce development efforts.

By Sebastian Obando • Dec. 4, 2025

Why ChatGPT (still) needs a construction lawyer

Large language models can generate a construction contract. Doing so is unnecessarily risky, attorneys said.

By Matthew Thibault • Nov. 25, 2025

‘Treat ICE like a vampire’ — and 5 more tips for dealing with law enforcement at work

Every employer should devise a response plan, a former DHS attorney said Friday at an American Bar Association event.

By Kate Tornone • Nov. 19, 2025

Will Trump kill federal funding for public transportation?

“These reckless proposals would devastate Americans in cities, suburbs, and rural communities across the country,” said the American Public Transportation Association president.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 18, 2025

DOTs hit pause on DBE goals to recertify firms

Around 41,000 companies participate in the national program that awards contracting goals to disadvantaged businesses. They all must now effectively reapply.

By Joe Bousquin • Nov. 18, 2025

4 ways contractors can lock in year-end tax wins in 2025

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, decisions made before Dec. 31 can have long-term impacts on cash flow, project pricing and capital budgets, writes a construction accountant.

By Chris Coleman • Nov. 14, 2025

How the government shutdown impacts construction contracts

Construction attorneys say some federal jobs during the closure may require contractors to keep working, even if they’re not getting paid.

By Sebastian Obando • Oct. 28, 2025

California greenlights $25M for apprenticeship programs

Through the Employment Training Panel, the cash targets 88 apprenticeship programs and 22,208 workers, many in construction.

By Matthew Thibault • Oct. 27, 2025

Surety industry sees education as key to opening doors for new construction firms

New contractors often face hurdles seeking bonds—the surety industry’s education efforts seek to change that. 

Oct. 13, 2025

Construction Inclusion Week hits record sponsorship numbers

Despite what it called a “politically charged atmosphere” around DEI, the industry-led initiative said it has attracted its most partnerships ever.

By Joe Bousquin • Oct. 10, 2025

DOT guts DBE program ahead of Construction Inclusion Week

A new interim final rule for the 45-year-old initiative requires all current DBEs to be re-evaluated for certification without using race or sex as criteria.

By Joe Bousquin • Oct. 9, 2025

David Keeling confirmed as new head of OSHA

The former Amazon and UPS safety executive takes on the role as the agency is expected to advance a heat safety regulation. Keeling has said OSHA needs both regulatory and technology updates.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 8, 2025

The 8 mistakes I see most in construction contracts

Lack of clarity over payment, change orders, timelines and quality of work all contribute to projects ending up in litigation, writes a consultant. 

By James Gallagher • Sept. 19, 2025

The most negotiated insurance clauses in construction contracts

‘Standard’ construction contract language isn’t always ‘standard.’ Learn what to look for, and why it matters.

By Kyle McKelvey, Account Executive-American Global • Sept. 15, 2025

California city adopts AI permitting

Lancaster will embark on a public-private partnership with Labrynth, a contractor-side artificial intelligence permitting platform, to speed up the review process.

By Matthew Thibault • Sept. 9, 2025

FTA seeks to eliminate environmental criteria from capital investment grant guidelines

The Federal Transit Administration requests public comment on updated guidance that would remove the “social cost of carbon” calculation and make broader changes to the multibillion-dollar program.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 26, 2025

Who is liable when a ‘borrowed’ construction worker gets hurt?

Temps and subs can help fill vital gaps on construction projects, but they create layers of liability that can be costly if left unaddressed.

By Keith Loria • Aug. 26, 2025

Workers sue 2 contractors over Legionnaires’ outbreak in NYC

Two construction workers filed suit against Skanska and Rising Sun Construction, alleging they failed to abate the deadly bacteria on jobsites in Harlem.

By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 25, 2025