The bill amends Chapter 28-14 of the General Laws by introducing a new section titled "Construction industry paycheck recovery." It establishes that contractors will be held civilly liable and/or jointly civilly liable for wage theft or nonpayment claims made by employees against them, their subcontractors, and any subcontractor involved in the performance of the contract, provided that written notice of the alleged violation is given within 45 days of the last occurrence of the wage theft.

The bill defines key terms such as "contractor," "subcontractor," "owner," and "notice," and outlines the conditions under which contractors can be held liable, including a limitation on liability to 120 consecutive days of any alleged wage theft, counting back from the day of the last violation prior to the notice. It specifies that a written offer and payment in full of all wages allegedly owed during the 45-day period after receipt of the notice by a contractor shall extinguish the contractor's liability for damages under this section.

Additionally, the bill states that remedies for claims will be limited to civil and administrative actions. It allows for the waiver of its provisions through collective bargaining agreements with bona fide building and construction trade labor organizations, ensuring that such waivers do not diminish employees' rights under other sections of the law.

The legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to construction contracts entered into, renewed, modified, or amended on or after that date. The bill aims to enhance protections for workers in the construction industry regarding wage claims and ensure accountability for contractors.