Doing Business in Florida Blog

Looming Infrastructure Bill Spotlights Recent Amendment to Florida's Public Bonding Law for Construction Projects

August 23, 2021
Adam E. Richards  |  American Jobs Plan, Infrastructure Task Force, Infrastructure Bill

Florida’s fraudulent lien law has been on the books for well over a decade. The law simultaneously created a powerful tool for responding to construction liens while intensifying the scrutiny of lienors and the amounts liened for. Today, a host of caselaw exists to assist the industry in navigating the legal minefield that comes with enforcing construction liens in the Sunshine State. Just two years ago, and perhaps armed with some prescience, the legislature amended Chapter 255, Florida Statutes, in order to create a similar statutory framework for fraudulent bond claims on public projects. Since then, not one single opinion can be found in connection with the new language in Section 255.05(2)(a)(2), Florida Statutes. Yet, with the substantial increase in public construction work, more bond claims will inevitably follow.

The American Jobs Plan: Florida Transit and Transportation

August 12, 2021
Colin M. Roopnarine  |  Infrastructure Task Force, Infrastructure Bill, American Jobs Plan

On August 8, 2021, the Senate voted to move President Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill, the “American Jobs Plan” (“Jobs Plan”), forward with a final vote coming as soon as August 9, 2021. It will then move to the House. Political maneuvering aside, a vital component of the Bill is the investment in transportation, which could exceed $621 billion over an eight-year timeframe. This investment would include public transit, passenger rail systems, improvements of services, and a tremendous backlog of road, highway, bridge and other repairs.

Take a Second Look: You May Be In The Infrastructure Business

May 3, 2021
Dawn M. Meyers  |  Infrastructure Bill, Infrastructure Task Force, American Jobs Plan

President Biden’s proposed American Jobs Plan has been touted as a vast and far-reaching infrastructure plan. When most of us think of infrastructure, the types of projects that leap to mind include roads and bridges and perhaps some airport improvements. According to the White House “Fact Sheet” on President Biden’s Plan, however, the term “infrastructure” may now have a far more expansive definition. It may include the types of projects you are in the business of providing.