Client Alerts & Publications
We Won’t Permit That Excuse!
Authors: Curtis W. Martin, Richard D. Eiszner,
Published Date: June 15, 2026
This article was written for ConsensusDocs and first appeared here. A Texas appellate court recently ruled that a building permit wasn’t a condition precedent for a construction project. That caught our attention. Can you build a commercial project without a permit? But as we read the case, we see the court’s reasoning. And it reminds us of an important legal [...] Read More
Presidential Action
New Executive Order on AI Innovation and Security: Key Takeaways for the Construction Industry
Authors: Richard R. Volack, Denis Serkin,
Published Date: June 4, 2026
On June 2, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security.” At its core, the Order is a cybersecurity and national-security measure rather than a broad regulation of how private companies develop or use AI. It directs federal agencies to harden government systems against AI-enabled cyber threats, establishes voluntary frameworks for collaboration between [...] Read More
U.S. Supreme Court Decision May Negate State Law Requirement to File a Certificate of Merit with the Complaint in a Federal Action Against a Design Professional
Authors: Christopher J. Olsen, Phillip Boldt,
Published Date: May 31, 2026
This article was written for ConsensusDocs and first appeared here. To deter frivolous and unfounded claims against design professionals, states throughout the country have enacted statutes which generally require litigants to furnish a formal certification of merit (“COM”) from a qualified expert or face potential dismissal of their lawsuit. These COM statutes can impose a significant front-end burden on claimants [...] Read More
TCEQ Seeks Stakeholder Input on Renewal of the Stormwater Construction General Permit
Authors: Tiffany A. Harrod,
Published Date: May 27, 2026
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has announced a stakeholder meeting and is seeking comments on the upcoming renewal of the statewide Stormwater Construction General Permit (CGP), Permit No. TXR150000. This general permit authorizes the discharge of stormwater from construction activities. The five-year permit is set to expire on March 5, 2028. TCEQ is engaging stakeholders early in the [...] Read More
NJ Public Works Contractors Beware – Pay Special Attention When Submitting Your Public Works Contractor Registration
Authors: Levi W. Barrett, Aaron C. Schlesinger,
Published Date: May 21, 2026
While it is always important to be careful when making submissions to government agencies, recent activity by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (“NJDOL”) reveals considerably increased scrutiny in connection with contractors renewing their New Jersey Public Works Registration. Extra care when completing the registration renewal process is warranted, because the consequences of a misstep can be [...] Read More
