Section Newsletters

Articles From James Rohlfing

Recent Retainage Reforms in Illinois: First Private Projects, Then Local Government, and Now State Agencies By James Rohlfing Construction Law, October 2025 On June 1, 2025, the Illinois legislature passed House Bill 1224 (HB1224), restricting retainage permitted to be withheld from contractors on construction projects with certain Illinois state agencies. The bill was signed by Governor Pritzker on August 15, 2025 and created Public Act 104-0168, which will become effective June 1, 2027. It will be the third new law in the last six years enacted by the Illinois legislature restricting the withholding of retainage under Illinois construction contracts.
Illinois Joins Trend Making General Contractors Liable for Paying Subcontractors’ Workers By James Rohlfing Construction Law, August 2022 An overview of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act as well as important exceptions within it.
Illinois Joins Trend Making General Contractors Liable for Paying Subcontractors’ Workers By James Rohlfing Real Estate Law, August 2022 An overview of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act as well as important exceptions within it.
Illinois’ New Retainage Law By James Rohlfing Construction Law, October 2019 Effective August 20, 2019, Illinois law provides that a maximum of 10 percent retainage may be withheld from payments under private construction contracts and, after the contract is one-half complete, retainage must be reduced to 5 percent for the remainder of the contract.

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