Throughout 2008, most retainage legislation focused on trying to limit or completely prohibit the withholding of retainage after projects are 50% complete. Retainage legislation in Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska and also Rhode Island was defeated this past year, thanks in part to the efforts of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) and AIA Surety.

The most significant retainage legislation that was enacted was California Senate Bill (SB) 593. SB 593 prohibits California