It’s Time for California to Modernize Public Works Penalties

by DINA MORSI posted 06.20.2025

OPINION – California’s public works construction market is worth a staggering $46 billion—and growing. But behind this impressive figure lies a problem that’s costing workers, taxpayers, and responsible contractors alike: outdated penalty and registration systems that effectively reward cheaters and leave regulatory agencies dangerously underfunded.Here’s the crux of the problem. Despite a 41% increase in public construction spending over the past decade and a 42% jump in revenue among California’s top contractors, the penalties for breaking public works labor laws haven’t been updated in over ten years. It’s been more than five years since we updated the contractor registration fees that help fund enforcement.The cost of food, housing, groceries, building materials and just about everything else has gone up dramatically with inflation these past few years. It makes little sense that the cost of cheating taxpayers and workers on construction projects has not, nor has the cost of registering to participate in California’s $46 billion public works market.READ MORE at Capitol Weekly